Opposition caught out misrepresenting the facts_again.

Minister for Emergency Services, Neil Roberts has said the Member for Mirani has misrepresented data contained in the latest quarterly report of the Rural Fire Service.

Mr Roberts said the Member for Mirani claimed in a media release that 10,000 rural volunteers had walked away from the Rural Fire Service in the last three years.

“This claim is absolute nonsense.

“The Member for Mirani’s claimed reduction in volunteer numbers is in fact the result of a comprehensive membership audit conducted by the Rural Fire Service, which was completed in March 2008.

“The comprehensive audit removed in excess of 10,000 names of people who had been erroneously left on the register.

“For example, these were people who had made donations but were not active volunteers, had passed away or had simply moved away.

“The membership audit has provided the Rural Fire Service with a more accurate picture of its actual volunteer numbers.”

Since this time, rural fire volunteer numbers have remained stable.

Mr Roberts said that over the past five years the Labor Government has more than doubled funding to the Rural Fire Service to $28.2 million this financial year.

“This year’s budget contains $3.6 million for 32 new rural fire appliances, $1.1 million to upgrade volunteer training materials and $150,000 to help brigades construct new stations.

“Additionally since July 2003, in excess of $1 million has been spent each year providing, at no cost to brigades, personal protective equipment to volunteers.

“Our 34, 631 rural fire volunteers deserve our thanks and praise for the fantastic job they do protecting life and property in rural communities.

“They have worked exceptionally hard preparing for this year’s bushfire season and don’t deserve the Member for Mirani’s blatant political posturing aimed at undermining public confidence in their capabilities.

“The Opposition has no credibility with the Rural Fire Service while it continues to misrepresent the facts."

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