Member for Murray-Wellington Murray Cowper has slammed the State Government’s apparent decision to base the Rural Fire Service in Collie, urging the Labor and Liberal Parties to stop playing “political football” with the future of fire safety in the Murray region.
Mr Murray, a Liberal Party member, said Premier Colin Barnett’s claim he had nominated Collie as headquarters for a proposed new country fire authority had thrown volunteer firefighters, farmers and local authorities – as well as himself – into disbelief.
Mr Murray has been campaigning for a country-based fire service independent from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) since the devastating Yarloop/Waroona Bushfires in January 2016.
“A pledge by State Labor to give local fire brigades $20,000 each, was another unwanted offer,” Mr Cowper said.
“All our fire service volunteers want to hear is that the new government beyond March 11 will grant them a new, fully independent country fire authority as soon as possible, and certainly before the 2017/2018 bushfire season.
“The Premier has named Collie as headquarters for a future State rural fire organisation, obviously in the hope of winning more votes in Collie Preston.
“But he and his Minister now differ on whether the proposed new authority should be independent, or subservient to DFES.
“Labor is privately committed to keep any new rural fire service under full DFES/union control.”
Mr Cowper labelled the decision as “blatant politicking”, and said it was a blatant mockery of serious attempts by the volunteer fire industry to work with the Premiers’ office on the implementation of the Ferguson report in the wake of last year’s fires.
“Patience with this process has run out and pressure is mounting in rural circles for real action under either a LIberal or Labor government.”
