No mate 12 million & thats it! we are the cheapest provider of emergency services in the state & if it wasn't for stupid government requirements we could get rid of all paid staff (sorry paid staff)& cost even less (just like VRA in NSW).
So while you are tucked up in your nice warm houses there are crews out working now for nothing other than the satisfaction of serving their community.
It might surprise you but even the mighty America has volunteer emergency first reponders - infact one of the top RCR squads is a volunteer team from Charlettsville
What you are hinting in your posts is an insult to all of the volunteer & retained professionals across the country!
It might surprise you that a survey a few years ago showed that over half the volunteers were out of pocket because of their service.
And so are their employer's, and yet if we were to use your equipment your company would make a tidy profit!
So pls accept that in this great country the provision of emergency services will be mostly done by professional volunteers, abley assisted by paid professional government employee's proudly serving their respective communities.
As some one said "this is Australia not America".
cheers