Sustainable funding and better equipment to support frontline

Published Tuesday, 04 June, 2013 at 02:35 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Treasurer and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Tim Nicholls

Minister for Police and Community Safety
The Honourable Jack Dempsey

Grants and capital works totalling more than $154 million will be delivered in 2013-14 to enhance community safety across Queensland.

Police and Community Safety Minister Jack Dempsey said the investment, outlined in the Newman Government’s second State Budget, would provide paramedics, firefighters and Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) with new and improved infrastructure.

Mr Dempsey said that as the Newman Government sets about rebuilding the State following the January 2013 natural disasters, it’s fitting and fair that emergency services workers have the infrastructure and equipment needed to do their jobs to the highest level.

“Our emergency service workers make an invaluable contribution to our community and we want to ensure they have the best facilities and equipment possible to carry out their duties,” Mr Dempsey said.

“Investing in capital works will significantly improve day-to-day working conditions and enable our officers to maintain the world-class standards they are renowned for.

“We will be completing and upgrading fire and rescue, ambulance stations and correctional facilities, installing new communications equipment, recruiting new officers and delivering state-of-the-art rescue vehicles.

“As well as this, we will be improving the ways in which we prepare and respond to natural disasters.”

The $154.21 million includes investment in:

· $51.5 million for ambulance facilities and 155 ambulance vehicles

· $46.4 million for fire and rescue facilities, urban and rural fire appliances, operational and communications equipment and information systems

· $40.5 million for post occupancy works, cell upgrades probation and parole office accommodation, property, plant and equipment

· $6.4 million to complete the redevelopment of the Spring Hill complex and ambulance station

· $3.1 million to deliver a community campaign to improve community actions to prepare for disasters

· $4.4 million in capital grants to support the SES.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the 2013-14 State Budget focussed on delivering core services, growing the economy, rebuilding Queensland and making communities and the Budget more resilient for the future.

“The task of growing the economy and repairing the State’s finances was made all the more difficult by the January 2013 natural disasters,” Mr Nicholls said.

He said the fire levy would be renamed and expanded to provide a sustainable funding base for emergency services.

“Extending the levy to all rateable properties, whereby a metropolitan residential property owner can expect to pay an additional $11.20 per year, will enable EMQ to continue its invaluable work in these fiscally constrained times," he said.

“This Budget strikes the right balance to ensure Queensland remains a great State with great opportunities for all.”

[ENDS] 4 June 2013

Media Contacts: Danny Donald 0439 719 116 or Alexandra Foley 0418 256 910