CONCERNS about the future Country Fire Service and State Emergency Service budgets were raised this week during a meeting of the Select Committee into Emergency Services Reform.
South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission chief executive Malcolm Jackman said the emergency services levy was tied to property values rather than the consumer price index, and could go up or down alongside those prices.
He also spoke about the introduction of Project Darwin, a process the sector is using to transition into the future.
Elaborating on the subject, Mr Jackman said the project aimed to modernise and bring the emergency services into "alignment and harmonisation".
"We are expecting Project Darwin to deliver efficiency gains that will reduce the pressure on expenditure increases," he said.
"On balance we expect to be able to manage the four budgets within the sector based on present projections."
Family First MLC Rob Brokenshire had concerns about reliance on efficiencies in making up the shortfall predicted in the next three years.
He was concerned these cash-saving measures could have a negative impact on volunteers already angered by the increased levy.
He questioned if these cuts would come at the expense of the operation.
"The government has taken another $90 million out of the community to put in the levy and took $90m of government contributions back to Treasury," Mr Brokenshire said.
"They needed to keep that money in, not take money out.
"With no growth in the budget it is going to put the functionality of the CFS and SES at risk within three years."
Mr Brokenshire said it was important to fight for more money in the budget before the organisations and rural communities were affected.
A government spokesperson said they already considered funding requests from the emergency service organisations in part of the state budget process.
Elizabeth Anderson
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
