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The Hon. IAN WEST: I direct my question to the Minister for Emergency Services. How is the Government supporting our emergency service workers in the 2004-05 budget?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: Last weekend I was in Eglington, just outside Bathurst—in the new Bathurst Regional Council area—with the Deputy Premier to announce a $666 million allocation to emergency services, which is an 8 per cent increase on last year's previous record funding of $616 million. It is also the tenth increase in a row and a doubling of funding since 1995. Thanks to a decade of record budget increases, our 82,000 emergency service workers are now the best equipped in the nation. The $666 million in State Government funding includes $25.5 million to provide more than 200 new and high-quality reconditioned bushfire tankers for the Rural Fire Service; $18 million for the NSW Fire Brigades to purchase almost 50 new vehicles, including 35 new fire engines, hazardous materials trucks and alpine rescue vehicles; $2.5 million, which is part of the $18 million, will be provided for two new specialised aerial appliances, known as Brontos, to be used for fighting fires in high-rise buildings and factories; and $800,000 to acquire 53 emergency response vehicles for local State Emergency Service units. The Government is committed to ensuring that the State's front-line services have the resources they need—
The Hon. Duncan Gay: Point of order: Madam President, I seek your clarification on whether this question and the answer are in order as the budget papers were tabled with the second reading speech today in this House.
The PRESIDENT: Order! I remind the honourable member of the recent changes to the standing orders. New Standing Order No. 65 (4) provides:
Questions must not anticipate discussion upon an order of the day or other matter on the Notice Paper, except an item of private members' business outside the order of precedence or an order of the day relating to the budget estimates.
The question is in order.
The Hon. TONY KELLY: As I was saying, while it is the job of our emergency services workers to protect the community in times of crisis, it is the Government's job to ensure that those on the front line have the most up-to-date, safe and well-equipped vehicles possible for their work battling fires, storms, floods and other emergencies. That is why we have increased the budgets of the NSW Fire Brigades, the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service by more than 95 per cent since 1994-95. The NSW Fire Brigades' budget this year will total $473.4 million and includes $18 million to upgrade the NSW Fire Brigades' fleet; $11.1 million to continue building or renovating fire stations and training facilities in the greater Sydney area, the lower Hunter and regional areas; $6.1 million to upgrade information technology, communications and paging equipment; and $1.7 million for additional rescue equipment. This budget represents an increase of $232 million, or 96 per cent, since 1994-95 or a 7.7 per cent increase on last year. The budget also allocates $134.2 million to the Rural Fire Fighting Fund, which is an increase of more than 164 per cent since 1994-95 and 7.3 per cent on last year. That $25.5 million will provide— [Time expired.]
The Hon. IAN WEST: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Minister elucidate his answer?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: As I was saying—
The Hon. Duncan Gay: Send the press release.
The Hon. TONY KELLY: The reason The Nationals do not want me to explain how big an increase the Rural Fire Service has received under this Government is that this year its budget is $134 million. That is two-thirds of what the Coalition Government gave in total during its seven years. All it gave the Rural Fire Service was $197 million. In one year we have given the service $134 million. No wonder The Nationals want to silence me and the State Government about what we are doing for our emergency service workers.
As I was saying, the budget provides $32 million for district equipment and operating costs, $3.2 million to build or upgrade brigade stations and fire control centres, and $2 million for communications upgrades. The State Emergency Service will spend $34.3 million on expenses and asset acquisitions, an increase of 138 per cent since 1994-95. This year's budget will provide funding for the work of the 9,000 volunteers who respond to more than 30,000 incidents a year. It includes $4.3 million for upgraded communications, paging and information technology systems, $1.3 million for rescue equipment, and $978,000 to meet the day-to-day operating costs of the 232 State Emergency Service volunteer units.
The Hon. Duncan Gay: Have you got a tanker for Torrington?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: I will give the Deputy Leader of the Opposition an answer in due course. When I get around to specifically allocating the budget for this year I will give him an answer. As one can see, since coming to office the Government has increased the budgets of all our emergency services. After years of Opposition neglect of volunteers and paid emergency service workers, this Government has invested in providing training and proper facilities for our emergency service workers. Actions speak louder than words.
The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: I suggest that if members have further questions, they place them on notice.