Time for action

[Subi]

do our grn pager actually cost nearly $300 each or is that typo??

Correct - $300 ea

[Darren]

It's a good start, the pagers are a big issue for a start, but still a loooong way to go, not enough to sweeten the deal come March !!

Keep it up CFSVA !

[crashndash]

not sure I'd call that a stunning victory for the Service

[Firefrog]

Good to see the tap just dripped in the CFS's direction. But don't get giddy with excitement. The training department is still under funded and under staffed, not to mention regional staffing.

[bajdas]

From the Minister's press release dated 07/02/2010

"...$3.55m to accelerate building works and maintenance on CFS and SES
facilities..."

OK, this gets added to existing capital budget I assume, so my initial thought is that is NOT going to buy much..

[Darren]

At the prices for the stations at the moment, its probably 4 or 5 stations at the most.

It's a start though, and they know we are annoying.  :-D

[Alan J]

I see the 'Tiser has twigged that it's a one-shot, and that the Service needs
more every year to be effective. They still didn't get the numbers right, but
at least they noticed...

[fyreman_16]

On the news they said that the government has pledged an extra $13 million to the CFS. Did i hear it right? I know they were at the Stirling station

[Pipster]

If it was at Stirling Station, then it would have been the Opposition launch of their policy...or at last the response to the Government's announcement....

Pip

[fyreman_16]

That would make more sense because i havn't heard it anywhere else

[CFS_Firey]

If it was at Stirling Station, then it would have been the Opposition launch of their policy...or at last the response to the Government's announcement....

Pip

Correct, $13 Million over 4 years for CFS and SES:
http://isobelredmond.com.au/News/MediaReleases/tabid/70/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/416/Redmond-priority-CFS-SES-funding.aspx

[Alan J]

If I were the glass-half-full kind of person, I'd say not enough is better than nothing at all.

But I'm not.
Seems to me that neither mob "get it".

This looks like another half-sucked lolly casually tossed our way (with fanfare) to trick voters.

We need more like an EXTRA $80M over 4 years, not $13M.

We need more staff - more "bureaucracy" as Isobel calls it.

Having a single Region Officer handling prevention (including home fire safety & compliance, vegetation management) and managing training is ridiculous.

Having 2 people attempting to manage a fleet of 1,000 vehicles including design & commissioning is a bad joke.

Whether we employ enough full-time trainers, or a CFSVA suggestion to pay hourly rates to volunteer instructors, there's still something like $9M EXTRA PER YEAR needed, just for training.

Too early to celebrate yet people.
Start thinking about funding banners at the election, and about getting disruptive around April.

[Bagyassfirey]

I agree NOT GOOD ENOUGH by either side.... Time for another visit down Nth Terrace maybe?

[Bagyassfirey]

So with the Election campaign really getting in to full swing does one think that the extra funding pledged by both sides will be it? Or does someone think there will be a pre election promise?

[Alan J]

Doesn't matter if there are election promises.
The High Court (I think it was) ruled that, as everyone knows that election
promises are just bait for votes, governments are not obligated to keep the
promises they made to win government... not even core promises.

[Zippy]

Doesn't matter if there are election promises.
The High Court (I think it was) ruled that, as everyone knows that election
promises are just bait for votes, governments are not obligated to keep the
promises they made to win government... not even core promises.

MMmm its just morally wrong to not go thru with them....government and morals hahahahahah

[PJ]

I understand this may rise up again as CFS Budget is rumoured to be getting cut by up to 25% & this comes from a very good source!

:wink: :wink: :wink:

[Andrew K]

Wouldn't surprise me as the government razor gangs will take savings where they can get them not where they should get them. I've been hearing rumors of SES getting a Cut as well

[safireservice]

Best put the skycranes on hold for next fire season then? Wouldnt have thought the SES could take any sort of reduction in funding?

[Andrew K]

Personally and most of the people i've spoken to don't think we can but thats unlikely to stop them i would have thought, just means another year of trying to keep unservicable pumps, saws etc working

[Zippy]

Funding Cut, Funding cut, Funding Cut...Massive fire....Zillions of dollars thrown at them....Funding cut,  Funding cut, Funding cut...

[jaff]

I understand this may rise up again as CFS Budget is rumoured to be getting cut by up to 25% & this comes from a very good source!

:wink: :wink: :wink:

Political suicide if they go down that path....WA are paying 2X the pay that our CFS staff are getting paid, for less headfuuuks, just try it Rann....Wanka!!!

[Alan J]

People
if you haven't written to, or emailed the premier or you local rep or the minister for Emergency Services, then you nee dto do so urgently.