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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-10-12 Daily Xml
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Emergency Services

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is building what matters in our emergency services sector and supporting local jobs?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:38): I thank the member for MacKillop for the question. I know the member for MacKillop feels strongly about this particular area and he knows how important our emergency services are, especially in our regional areas. They do a fantastic job keeping us safe all year round.

I was pleased to visit a great local business called Agri-Bits in recent times. The SES actually has a five-year partnership with Agri-Bits, worth over $4 million, for the delivery of trucks and also flood trailers. It's quite a significant partnership with this significant South Australian business, and it has seen the delivery of 31 flood and also storm response trailers, the construction of 26 rescue truck bodies and also two trailer-mounted sandbagging machines. I know they have been very popular in recent times, sir, especially in your neck of the woods.

Of course, this type of significant investment results in local jobs, which is so important across our state and in our communities. Only recently, I paid Agri-Bits a business visit at their Wingfield factory and I met with Marco, who is their production manager. He is a fantastic guy. He showed me around what must be, I would say, 4,000 square metres in factory space and gave me an insight into the construction process of these trucks, trailers and also their storm vehicles.

It is very, very important that our emergency services personnel have the equipment that they need to do their job efficiently and effectively and, most importantly, safely as well. Agri-Bits has embraced the challenge of delivering innovative ideas that make operational processes such as sandbagging efficient but also safe for our emergency services personnel and the public as well. I have seen firsthand how important these trailers are which make a huge difference to this critical but what is a very labour-intensive task as well.

Our emergency services sector partners with many companies like them. Earlier this year, I joined the member for Hammond when we commissioned a new SES marine rescue vessel at the Meningie SES unit. What a lovely part of the world! The delivery of this new vessel actually involved contributions from a whole range of stakeholders like, for example, $180,000 in capital funding from the Community Emergency Services Fund.

The vessel is 6.7 metres and it was built by what is another South Australian success story in Nautic Star. It was great to have both Tanya and Marco Bacic there in attendance at the vessel's commissioning. They have made a whole range of these vessels for us, and they are absolutely world class. It is great to see many of our agencies utilising them, not only here but also other agencies in other states.

Based at Lonsdale, Nautic Star is recognised nationally for its quality and its performance in boat building, and Meningie's new vessel is yet another example of the Lonsdale company's excellent construction. It is yet another example of a local South Australian business which is excelling, which is growing in its field. It's employing South Australians and delivering high-quality goods and services. The SES's partnership with Nautic Star is a fantastic success story and it's going to continue to ensure local construction, local jobs and outstanding results for our community as well.

The house will also be interested to know that the Meningie SES has recognised and honoured the longstanding ties of the Ngarrindjeri people to this country by naming the vessel Yarli, which is the traditional name of Lake Albert, which Yarli will monitor. I have no doubt that the capabilities of the new vessel will improve the safety of people in Meningie but also the Lake Albert area and contribute to a stronger and safer South Australia.

Our emergency services sector is proud to rely on and foster local South Australian businesses' jobs and ensure where possible that we are building what matters but also creating jobs for the future and also boosting our economy.

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