Page 3329 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 October 2006
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MR CORBELL: It works better. (Further extension of time granted.) TRN works. I do not rely on the advice just of my officials on this. I have used it myself and I have been trained in it. I know that it works. I know that I can communicate with SES units with it and I know that I can communicate with New South Wales units with it because I have done it. I have done it and I know that it works.
Mr Speaker, the other issue that I want to address is that of the RFS fleet. When I became minister, there was a range of issues bought to my attention. The status of the RFS fleet was not one that was immediately bought to my attention, but it was after a period. I have already requested my department to prepare a comprehensive fleet replacement strategy to address issues around the ageing of the RFS fleet. I said that during question time today, but that did not seem to matter to those opposite because they decided that they just wanted to move a motion of censure; they just wanted to get some political advantage, some cheap, pathetic political advantage.
A comprehensive RFS fleet replacement strategy—indeed, I should say a comprehensive ESA fleet replacement strategy—has been requested by me as minister. That is something I did a number of months ago. We have not just left the RFS fleet to deteriorate. We have seen the replacement of vehicles within that fleet. We have seen new CAFS tankers, we have seen new heavy tankers, we have seen new light units and we have seen new command vehicles, but there is more work to be done and, as minister, I am determined to see that it is done.
At the end of the day, the government’s commitment to emergency services is not just about dollars, although the dollars are very significant. In 2000-01, the Liberals were funding emergency services at $32.8 million. By 2006-07, it is $70 million. That is a significant increase and commitment by this government. I do not mind having a detailed debate about any of these issues, but I do mind the suggestion that I am in some way negligent and not interested in these issues. I really take offence at that. I take offence at that for two reasons. First of all, because it suggests that in some way, as minister, I do not care about the fact, that I do not care about community safety. Of course I do. We all do in this place.
But what I really object to is that I, as someone who makes a commitment personally as well as professionally to protecting the community, to doing my bit, can be accused of the sort of pathetic and paltry accusations that we have seen from those opposite. I reject them, I reject them absolutely, and I reject on behalf of the government any suggestion that this government has failed to properly tackle and address the issues within our emergency services. We are light years ahead. I stand by that and I stand by the investment and commitment this government has made in emergency services.
Motion (by Mr Hargreaves) put:
That the question be now put.
The Assembly voted—
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