LNP to create dedicated fund for emergency volunteers

• LNP to establish a dedicated $10 million Emergency Volunteers Fund to support the hardworking Queenslanders who support us
• Volunteer organisations such as Surf Lifesaving, SES, Volunteer Marine Rescue and Rural Fire Service to receive grants for vital equipment and supplies
• Only the LNP will provide safe and liveable communities and ensure hard working emergency volunteers have the funds they need to keep Queenslanders safe

An LNP Government will establish a dedicated $10 million Emergency Volunteers Fund to support the Queenslanders who support us in times of emergency.

On a visit to Hatton Vale Rural Fire Shed, LNP Deputy Leader Deb Frecklington said our hard-working volunteer organisations received some government assistance, but relied heavily on community support and generosity to provide vital emergency services for our state.

“The LNP values the critical role volunteers play in helping Queenslanders cope with emergencies,” Ms Frecklingtson said.

“These dedicated grants will help provide greater funding certainty to our hard-working emergency service organisations.

“When a cyclone’s ripped the roof off your house, fire’s threatening your backyard or you’re caught in a rip at the beach, Queensland’s hard-working volunteers are just a yell or a phone call away.

“Organisations such as Surf Life Saving Queensland, the State Emergency Service, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Rural Fire Service Queensland, Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and St John Ambulance Queensland rely on donations and local fund-raising to purchase new equipment and upgrade local facilities.

“Thousands of emergency service volunteers give up time with family and friends to help Queenslanders and the least we can do is ensure their lives and ours are protected by investing in the best possible equipment.”

LNP Candidate for Lockyer Jim McDonald said an LNP Government would establish a dedicated $10 million Emergency Volunteers Fund, where organisations could apply for and receive assistance to improve local community resilience and maintain or increase capacity.

“Each year Queensland experiences extreme weather events and it’s important we provide our volunteer organisations with the equipment and facilities they need to deliver emergency services,” Mr McDonald said.

“These funding grants for vital equipment and supplies would provide a more secure financial footing for volunteer organisations.

“Only the LNP has a plan to provide safe and liveable communities and ensure our hard-working emergency volunteers have the funds they need to keep Queenslanders safe.”

The LNP fund will be rolled out over three years and consists of two key elements:

• Equipment Upgrade and Replacement ($6.8 million over three years)
• 200 x $25,000 grants under the Major Equipment fund over 5 funding rounds, and
• 360 x $5,000 grants under the Minor Equipment fund over 5 funding rounds
• Build Capacity and Improve Resilience ($3.2 million over three years)
• 40 x $50,000 grants under the Minor Improvements Fund over 3 funding rounds, and
• 12 x $100,000 grants under the Major Improvements Fund over 3 funding rounds

Key facts:

• In government, the LNP appointed a dedicated Assistant Minister for Emergency Volunteers in recognition of their important and unique role in Queensland.
• The LNP reformed the way in which rural fire services were provided through the Malone report, appointed a dedicated Assistant Commissioner and fully funded rural fire brigade equipment, communications and training.
• These investments benefit residents through quicker responses to emergency events and help people in their time of need.