Thursday, 9th July 2020
Queensland’s State Emergency Service (SES) and marine rescue volunteers have been disgracefully let down by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
LNP Shadow Minister for Fire, Emergency Services and Volunteers Lachlan Millar said that our hard-working frontline volunteers deserved better and we can’t afford to lose any more.
“In Queensland we have seen more than 1000 SES volunteers quit as well as 19 branches close up since 2015,” said Mr Millar.
“The SES is in crisis and volunteers are choosing to walk in droves.
“Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford has a review into the service on his desk waiting to be signed off and made public.
“It’s time for Minister Crawford to come clean and release the SES review for the sake of the thousands of volunteers crying out for action.
“Queenslanders and our SES Volunteers deserve to know what’s gone wrong and who is responsible.
“It’s time the Palaszczuk Labor Government too came clean on its intentions on the future of marine rescue groups in Queensland.
“Nearly two years after the Blue Water Review into Queensland marine rescue operations our volunteers remain completely in the dark.
“Marine rescue groups and organisations engaged with the Palaszczuk Labor
Government’s Blue Water Review in good faith, but unfortunately it’s gone sour.
“Queensland’s volunteer marine rescuers are doing their best to protect the communities they serve, and they deserve to know what their future looks like.
“Marine
rescue volunteers deserve rock solid assurances and answers on the essential
service they provide, as do Queensland boaties and recreational fishers
throughout the state.
“The LNP want to see
marine rescue well-funded and trained so it can keep Queenslanders safe.
“These men and women are the lifeblood of many communities and we can’t afford
to lose any more.”
