Page 412 - Week 02 - Thursday, 8 March 2007
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He was a representative of the Rural Fire Service captains group and he has provided well-regarded and wise advice to both the McLeod and Doogan inquiries, including broader emergency services capability matters. Today Val Jeffery said, “It is a stupid government of ill-informed bureaucrats who not only take no notice but then shoot the messenger.” That is what this is. If you do not agree with Simon Corbell, you are cactus; you are gone. Val Jeffery said, “This is a recipe for another 2003 or worse.” He said that it is not just a matter of the number of bureaucrats; it is the politics and attitudes that come with the bureaucracy.
Money juices an organisation. If you do not have money and control of the money to carry out what you need to do you do not have control. You can talk to ministers until you are blue in the face but we all know the bureaucratic process that sees the money tap turned off. That is what the SES and the RFS are afraid of. Indeed, that is what David Prince of the urban firefighters is afraid of, which is why he resigned in disgust. I am told he resigned as soon as the briefing was finished because he knows it will not work.
This is a single fire service by stealth. The minister referred to that in his press conference when he said, “We will combine demand and control.” That is what he is doing; he is combining demand and control. This autocratic minister who should know better should listen to the volunteers and reverse this decision. He will be held responsible if 2003 or worse occurs. (Time expired.)
Mr Corbell: Mr Speaker—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, if you speak now, you will be closing the debate.
Mr Corbell: Yes, I will. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Smyth: Gagged! You do not want to hear any more. You are a shocker! There is no fair play.
Mr Corbell: No-one else stood up.
Mr Smyth: No fair play.
Mr Corbell: No-one else stood up.
MR SPEAKER: I think I am obliged to call any other member if he or she rises.
Mr Stefaniak: Okay, so I have risen.
Mr Corbell: I simply observed that no-one else was on his or her feet prior to my getting to my feet, so I got up.
Mr Stefaniak: We probably thought you were just stretching, Simon.
MR SPEAKER: I call Mr Stefaniak.
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