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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-09-27 Daily Xml
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Regional Capability Community Fund

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister inform the house about the reinstatement of the Regional Capability Community Fund grant program and any alternative approaches to farm firefighting units?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:45): I thank the member for Giles for his question; I know he is a firm advocate for his local community.

It is sad that the member for Hammond is not here today, because he is also a very firm and very strong advocate for farm firefighting units. We did not hear much from him when the former Liberal government cancelled these grants, but I can say that since then he has been a firm advocate for this government's reinstatement of the regional capability community grant.

Mr Speaker, as someone impacted by fires throughout your community, particularly through Cudlee Creek, you would know very well—as would the member for Mawson with the devastating fires that took place on Kangaroo Island, as would many other members in this place with their own communities—the critical frontline role that farm firefighting units play in supporting the Country Fire Service both in responding to fires and, very importantly, as frontline protection to risk mitigate against small farm-based fires spreading or escalating into major fire emergencies.

The major fires I refer to burnt some 279,000 hectares of property, with 202 homes lost and 66,000 head of livestock dead. That is why, as the emergency services minister, and with the support of the Treasurer, I am so proud to reinstate this regional capability grant funding in our first budget: $2 million over four years of money that we want to inject straight into our regional communities—because whilst it is fair to say that regions matter, so too do actions.

That is why the former government's approach on this matter, as inquired about by the member for Giles, was so perplexing—cancelling these grant funds at a time of most need. That said, having these cuts, we were absolutely floored and overwhelmed by the encouraging signs we have seen, since taking government, from our regional communities and also through the communications I have had with primary producers, with grain producers and many other peak associations about just how much they wanted to see these grants reinstated.

The applications received in the first round of this grant funding numbered 1,200, and I am very pleased to report to the house that we are now getting that money out the door, with many hundreds of successful applicants already notified, so that not only will they have an increased capability ahead of the fire season but also that we are injecting local money into local jobs and local services where they are most needed.

One thing that is of particular note about the way we have designed this funding is that it is not just to increase the capability of farm firefighting units but to ensure that people, farmers, get access to personal protective equipment, UHF radios and first-aid equipment. As I said, it is not just about having capability but it is also to ensure that our farmers who are fighting these fires are as safe as they can possibly be, because actions matter when it comes to our regional communities. That is why we are delivering on this election commitment.

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