Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-03-20 Daily Xml

Contents

Metropolitan Fire Service

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (14:53): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services; Recreation, Sport and Racing; and Autism regarding MFS appliances.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: At the 18 February 2025 meeting of the City of Mount Gambier, the council passed a resolution seeking a meeting with the minister and confirmation that at least one of the new MFS appliances promised by the government will be allocated to the Mount Gambier MFS station, rather than a reconditioned appliance. The council also requested a copy of the asset management plan for rural and regional appliances to understand the government's long-term strategy for ensuring that Mount Gambier is adequately resourced.

Mount Gambier is the state's second largest city. Major industries, including the expansive forestry sector, require strong firefighting capability. However, as Mayor Martin stated in her correspondence, the station has repeatedly received second-hand reconditioned appliances from Adelaide rather than new vehicles. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has the minister provided a copy of the asset management plan for rural and regional appliances as requested by the City of Mount Gambier?

2. Has the minister contacted and agreed to meet with the Mayor of Mount Gambier and relevant stakeholders to discuss the long-term strategy for firefighting resources in the region?

3. Will the minister commit to ensuring that at least one of the new MFS appliances, as promised by the government, will be permanently deployed to Mount Gambier?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:55): I thank the member for his question and his ongoing interest in regard to the Mount Gambier service. Obviously, as we have discussed before, this is a career service and a retained service. In regard to the particulars of when the arrivals of appliances will be made available, I am happy to look into that further and provide information when it is available. But as I have said before, I am in contact with the Mount Gambier MFS station. It wasn't raised with me when I did have a conversation with them, but I am looking forward to going to Mount Gambier very shortly.