Mr WARREN - 2008-05-08
We have a fabulous bunch of rural volunteer firefighters throughout the Territory who do a very professional job and risk their lives for the benefit of other Territorians. How does Budget 2008-09 deliver on the government’s election commitment to provide additional support for our bushfire volunteers?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families, and also for our highly-valued bushfire volunteers. There are many areas of our society where volunteers are needed to come forward, but none more than so than when we have to fight bushfires across our great Territory.
Bushfires can flare up in the savannah lands; and in the desert country around Alice Springs. It is good to be able to equip our firefighters to ensure they can fight these fires safely. That is what we have been doing in this budget. Today, there are 450 volunteer firefighters and 21 volunteer bushfire brigades across the Territory. We also have about 600 people who are trained on pastoral and Aboriginal lands who respond to bushfires. It is these people who principally fight the fires, and it is these people who lives are threatened by bushfires.
Budget 2008-09 increases support for bushfire volunteers by $2m for 2008-09, and an ongoing $0.75m from 2009-10, which is great to see. The Territory’s hard-working volunteer firefighters will receive significant extra training and resources from this boost in funding. Funding will also be used to upgrade the firefighting fleet radio network, which is so critical in emergency situations. Our valiant volunteer firefighters do an outstanding job, and this increase in funding will enable them to maintain the capabilities and skills, and give them better resources to create safer communities for all Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. Budget 2008-09 delivers for Territory families, and also for our highly-valued bushfire volunteers. There are many areas of our society where volunteers are needed to come forward, but none more than so than when we have to fight bushfires across our great Territory.
Bushfires can flare up in the savannah lands; and in the desert country around Alice Springs. It is good to be able to equip our firefighters to ensure they can fight these fires safely. That is what we have been doing in this budget. Today, there are 450 volunteer firefighters and 21 volunteer bushfire brigades across the Territory. We also have about 600 people who are trained on pastoral and Aboriginal lands who respond to bushfires. It is these people who principally fight the fires, and it is these people who lives are threatened by bushfires.
Budget 2008-09 increases support for bushfire volunteers by $2m for 2008-09, and an ongoing $0.75m from 2009-10, which is great to see. The Territory’s hard-working volunteer firefighters will receive significant extra training and resources from this boost in funding. Funding will also be used to upgrade the firefighting fleet radio network, which is so critical in emergency situations. Our valiant volunteer firefighters do an outstanding job, and this increase in funding will enable them to maintain the capabilities and skills, and give them better resources to create safer communities for all Territorians.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016