The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to a strong and well-resourced Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) that protects lives and property in Tasmania.
We have nothing to hide and look forward to debunking Labor and the union’s false scare campaign.
We are investing a record $28.5 million in the most comprehensive fuel reduction program in the State’s history, and have provided an additional $1.5 million this year to the fire service.
Last burn off season, the fuel reduction program burnt 28,419 hectares, a nearly 40 per cent increase on the 17,800 hectares burnt off in 2013-14 – an extraordinary outcome.
The whole point of the fuel reduction program is to reduce the risk of bushfires, and our program is working.
Importantly, there have been no cuts to the TFS frontline.
In fact, the Government has not only maintained the number of frontline firefighters, those numbers have increased.
There are more firefighters now than there ever were under Labor and the Greens.
This year, we are also investing more than $1 million in world-class firefighting personal protective clothing to improve the safety of our firefighters.
Further, we committed $15.3 million in the State Budget to the Emergency Services Computer Aided Dispatch project, which will improve the safety and effectiveness of all emergency workers.
This inquiry will also provide the opportunity for a full and frank assessment of the need for sustainable funding models for the TFS and the State Emergency Service into the future.
We are confident this inquiry will show that the Government is on the right track.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Police and Emergency Management
