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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-05-16 Daily Xml
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Emergency Services, Kingdom of Tonga

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:12): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister update the chamber on the relationship between the emergency services of South Australia—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Hanson has the floor.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Well, the order for asking questions that I have is the Hon. Mr Hanson, then the Hon. Ms Franks. Hon. Mr Hanson.

The Hon. J.E. HANSON: Can the minister update the chamber on the relationship between the emergency services of South Australia and the Kingdom of Tonga?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:13): I thank the honourable member for his important question and his commitment to emergency services generally. Last week, I had the pleasure of being at MFS headquarters on Wakefield Street to announce that the state government will be donating a further two fire trucks to the Kingdom of Tonga. Together with the MFS Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Mr Glenn Benham, we announced that two out-of-service water tankers—one from the CFS and one from the MFS—are being delivered, with shipping costs paid for by the Tongan government.

As members may recall, Mr Benham was recently recognised in this year's Australia Day Honours, receiving the Australian Fire Service Medal, in part for his significant contribution to this important program. For those who are not aware, the strong relationship began 14 years ago when the Metropolitan Fire Service first visited the Kingdom of Tonga in 2003 and were concerned by the lack of training and resources available to their fire service.

To put this into perspective, at the time, Tongan firefighters would respond to emergencies without helmets, gloves, boots or breathing apparatus, while only four deteriorating firefighting jackets were available between 50 personnel. As a result, a memorandum of understanding was developed between the Tonga Fire and Emergency Services and the Metropolitan Fire Service in 2004, which has since seen 22 trucks, along with many shipments of obsolete firefighting equipment donated, as well as valuable training delivered. This has led to a reduction in fire damage and economic loss for the Pacific nation.

As part of the relationship, members of the Tonga Fire and Emergency Services also visit Adelaide, which aids their education and training. The government of Tonga funds their annual visits with accommodation and cultural support generously provided by the local Tongan community. At a minimal financial cost to our state, it is great to see firefighting appliances and equipment, which would otherwise be disposed through auction, go somewhere where it can have a lasting and meaningful value.

This program is a fantastic example of our government reaching out to others in need and demonstrates just how highly regarded and respected our emergency services sector is, internationally. In a letter from the Kingdom of Tonga's Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services late last year, he expressed their appreciation for this ongoing relationship, noting that it has led to the provision of a range of prevention and mitigation services, as well as rapid and effective response to emergency incidents that help protect life and property.

My hat goes off to the MFS for all their hard work and commitment to this program and I hope it continues for many years to come. It serves as a useful reminder of the fact that we are blessed in this state with a well-resourced emergency services sector. It is something that this government has been committed to throughout the entirety of our period in government and puts us in the fortunate position to be able to assist the Kingdom of Tonga. I think it serves as a worthy reminder to South Australians generally that we are a generous people but we do provide that generosity on the back of the fact that we are a well-resourced state when it comes to emergency services.

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