As Prime Minister Scott Morrison offers thoughts and prayers to those ravaged by severe bushfires across NSW, let’s not forget that his Liberal Party colleagues in the state government slashed tens of millions of dollars from state fire services just this year.
In the latest state budget, $12.9 million in expenses was cut from Fire & Rescue NSW, while the Office of NSW Rural Fire Services — a service run by volunteers — lost $26.7 million in expenses.
Byron Bay, which is currently being torn apart by fires, was also promised $5.85 million for a new fire station in Kingscliff. The funding has yet to arrive.
The cuts were all part of a larger $3.2 billion shake-up in the public sector, which saw thousands of jobs, bonuses and long-service leave entitlements lost.
Here are some of the ways state fire services could have spent those missing millions.
- The annual salary of 488 qualified firefighters, or 384 station officers
- Almost 70 new “Class 3 Pumper” trucks, heavy fire engines for both metro and regional areas which cost around $580,000 each
- 115 4WD fire trucks to reach fires in difficult terrain, worth $350,000 each
- Almost 50,000 fire-protective helmets at $818 each
- 123,100 flame resistant rescue coveralls at $329 each
- 10,739 gas exposure testing kits at $3,771 each
- The annual salary of 260 superintendents, or 241 chief superintendents.
27 thoughts on “Everything NSW fire services could have bought if their budget wasn’t cut”
Marcus Hicks
November 11, 2019 at 12:52 pmAh, but a couple of billion dollars for a botched rebuilding of 2 stadiums? Yeah, no problem. Glad Bags really has her priorities all wrong.
CML
November 11, 2019 at 1:09 pmThank you Crikey for bringing this matter to the attention of the public. I read an item on line several days ago that told of these cuts, but no-one I talked with would believe me.
Could I add that the experts this morning are saying they need aircraft and helicopters to fight these unprecedented fires, but there is a shortage of WATER for them. Perhaps the government should compulsorily acquire the water in those dams up north of the Darling River…it is an emergency after all. Cubbie Station anyone????
ratty
November 11, 2019 at 4:49 pmCubby dam is dry as a bone, just as the Darling River is.
It would not be too much of ask for the NSW Government to put down a couple of bores into the sub-artesian basin and dig a big deep hole and fill it, for next time.
Oh, sorry, what was that? Alan Jones wants the private members areas upgraded in the stadiums?
Forget the next drought? Scotty’s got a pray for that too?
paradise
November 11, 2019 at 1:20 pmNever forget, conservative sluts for money, pose, position, and notoriety are self focussed, often in a diseased, primitive way. They are and will remain our enemies, of decency, responsibility, generosity, basic intelligence. As they are so often pushy loudmouths, cunning networkers, insider devoted bumboy types, they strive for the rigged rails run of political representation, a lucrative career, “fame.” Shits…
mark e smith
November 11, 2019 at 1:39 pmJust wondering about this claim of lost LSL entitlements in the cuts.
Do you mean reneging on actual LSL accrued which I doubt is legal. Or do you mean a change to the accrual rate ? This may seem minor in the context of this article but could affect many long time employees by many thousands each.
Sharon Ramel
November 11, 2019 at 2:03 pmUnbelievable, and all the vacuous PM can do it pray….
Milton Armitage
November 11, 2019 at 2:11 pmThis issue has been missed by many in the MSM. The NSW National Parks have been gutted by the NSW Government. Many cuts since they were elected in 2011.
They slashed 27% or $200 million from their budget over the last few years. The staff have fewer personnel and resources to manage these parks let alone undertake fuel reduction burns which do require experienced people and the assistance of local RFS brigades. Many said at the time of the major cuts in 2017 that this severe slashing of funds will reduce the ability for good park management and fuel reduction burns are a big part of this.
Staff and Parks insiders said the Government was told that this will effect a catastrophe some day. Well guess what?
As well we’ve been in drought for the last 3 years and even my Brigade is unable to undertake fuel reduction burns…. So what do the LNP do to deflect this stupid budget cut… they get their supporters to blame the Greens – who incidentally have fuel reduction burns as part of their policy… they most frustration lies in the fact if one wants to find a solution to a problem you need to find the truth first… this Government just deflects everything to Greenies bad – the good ole boys and girls of the National Party good.
Vasco
November 12, 2019 at 7:47 amAll you write is correct Milton. Yesterday, Wendy Machin, former NSW Nationals leader was propagandising on Facebook, claiming the Greens were responsible for the lack of National Parks and State Forest maintenance. Benito Barilaro and Elvis McCormack’s performances yesterday also show what the level of debate is going to be.
paddy
November 11, 2019 at 2:17 pmThe next few days will be like living through a Cormac McCarthy novel.
With Scumo and Gladys spouting nonsense about “thoughts and prayers”, perhaps *just* this once, the good folk of NSW & Qld might (hopefully) realise they’re being utterly scammed.
It’s quite remarkable watching the response in the small Sth Gippsland community where I live.
The CFA brigade headed off to fight the fires in NSW yesterday. But instead of the usual “gung ho” feeling when the local lads head off to give a hand… It felt way more like they were heading off to fight a war.
Eric Bogle is going to have to write a new song. 🙁
old greybearded one
November 11, 2019 at 2:25 pmMy best mates are between two fires on the north coast. One came to 500m on Friday night. Wherever you are thanks to your CFA crew.
Altakoi
November 11, 2019 at 2:18 pmIts interesting just how many people – 488 fire fighters – you could buy with $12.9 million dollars. You could barely pay for six partners at a top-4 consulting firm, maybe 18 senior bureaucrats at the ‘decision making’ level. Makes you wonder whose really worth what in an absolute sense.
old greybearded one
November 11, 2019 at 2:27 pmI am more angry than I have been for a while. They were told and been told for years this was coming. I am a former RFS volunteer. I still go if needed badly. My best mates are between the Coombes Gaop and the Bril Bril fires. In 45 years of driving the Oxley Highway I have never ever seen that country burned for more than a few hectares. Now it is 14 000 along the Hastings.
Vasco
November 11, 2019 at 2:54 pmChecking the NSW Fire Service website will make your hair stand on end. Federal and state governments must not be allowed to weasel and abuse their way out of their collective responsibility for this catastrophe. National Parks staffing and resources have been decimated over the past twenty years. Likewise with state forest management. Experienced, staff used to carry out fire mitigation regularly, develop and maintain fire trails and breaks and work with adjoining land holders to do this. In my neck of the woods, fires have been out of control since September. The RFS volunteers are having to pay for fuel for their vehicles out of their own pockets because the government credit cards won’t work. I cannot say how these people are keeping going. The “white shirts”, paid RFS staff are tools of the government. We must unite and demand a comprehensive, non partisan review of our land and water management and the building of professional, paid staffing and management programs to carry out the work needed. Enough of this incompetent, vicious behaviour from government.
Milton Armitage
November 11, 2019 at 4:50 pmGlad to hear you say that….I’ve never been impressed by the RFS “white shirts” either.
Wayne Cusick
November 11, 2019 at 2:47 pmIsn’t the NSW state government the best state government in Australia, according to Mr Keane?
Milton Armitage
November 11, 2019 at 4:56 pmmore so Macquarie Street is the worst political address in Australia…