LNP Shadow Minister for Fire, Emergency Services and Volunteers Lachlan Millar has launched a petition* calling on the Labor Palaszczuk Government to abandon plans for a Brisbane takeover of Rural Fire Brigades and SES groups.
It follows considerable outcry from local fire brigades over the Labor Government’s plans to restructure how rural fire brigades and the SES groups report, operate and are managed within the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES).
Mr Millar said Labor Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford must put an end to the Brisbane power grab.
“Mr Crawford has to restore autonomy back to our state’s hard working and well-respected rural fire brigades and SES volunteers,” Mr Millar said.
“While the Minister calls his plan ‘regionalisation’, the facts could not be further from the truth.
“This plan strips power from the Rural Fire Service assistance commission and dilutes it amongst the regional assistant commissioners that come from and represent urban firefighting interests, not rural and regional Queensland.
“The most disappointing part of this entire process has been the complete lack of consultation with the very volunteers that make up 80 per cent of QFES that this restructure will directly impact.
“Clearly the Minister believes he is above due diligence.
“If Mr Crawford and QFES bothered to consult and listen to the more than 42,000 volunteers within QFES, they would realise this restructure isn’t what the rural fire brigades want or need.
“When it comes to issues affecting rural and regional Queensland Labor continues to govern from Brisbane for Brisbane.
“It’s time to tell Labor to back off our Rural Fire Services and SES groups.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s priorities are all wrong and her embattled Minister Craig Crawford needs to take some responsibility for this mess.
“I urge those people who feel passionate about this to sign my petition, so we can send a strong message to the Palaszczuk Labor Government.”
*Sign the petition: https://queensland.typeform.com/to/lmcigx
VIDEO:
Justin Choveaux, General Manager - Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland Inc.: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9rkwut1zo81zrwd/20190328%20-%20RURAL%20FIRIES%20GRABS%20-%20JUSTIN.mp4?dl=0
Lachlan Millar: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1qb73272fopoyh7/20190328%20-%20RURAL%20FIRIES%20GRABS%20-%20LACHY.mp4?dl=0
