❓ Question regarding a $28 million reduction in government funding to FESA despite perceived risks and increased Emergency Services Levy (ESL). The Minister defends the ESL increase, citing necessary improvements to emergency services, particularly in regional areas.
AnsweredQoN 280Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY
I have a supplementary question. Given what the minister said about the need to properly resource FESA in light of the number of perceived risks, why has the government reduced its contribution to FESA by $28 million? Surely this is just another way that the government is slugging family budgets. Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I have a supplementary question. Given what the minister said about the need to properly resource FESA in light of the number of perceived risks, why has the government reduced its contribution to FESA by $28 million? Surely this is just another way that the government is slugging family budgets. Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
It is not another way to slug the family budget — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: It is not another way to slug the family budget — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
It is not another way to slug the family budget — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: It is not another way to slug the family budget — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
It is not another way to slug the family budget — Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : For goodness sake! If the member wants to ask a question, she should ask it. I am delighted to answer the member for Girrawheen’s question. I accept that it is a huge increase compared with what the levy has been in the past and with what will happen in the future. I have told members why we need to do that. Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Treasury is ripping it out of the budget; that’s why. Admit the truth. The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
The SPEAKER : Order! I think the member for Girrawheen is interested in hearing the answer to the question. I presume she is. I formally call the member for Midland for the first time today. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I will conclude very quickly. The simple fact is that the government and I believe that the increase to the ESL this year is well founded. It is unfortunate, but it is well founded. The community needs these facilities. It could be said that it is a user-pays system to some extent, but I do not like using that expression. I believe that people in the metropolitan area will not be too unhappy about paying an extra $27 a year to help not only those who live in the metropolitan area, but also those who live in country areas. That levy will fund what the ESL was supposed to fund—a lot of new equipment, more personnel and new infrastructure in the South West. There will be more fire officers down south for FESA and they will be able to assist all the volunteer fire brigades in the South West. The new FESA facility in the South West will be a great facility and a great asset to the people of the South West. We are looking at other areas — Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It is like a lot of loaves and fishes, minister. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : I am good at loaves and fishes, I promise the member. At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
At the end of the day, we are trying to look after everybody in Western Australia. Some people in the metropolitan area might say that it is unfair that they are being slugged for this or that. I have faith in the people in the metropolitan area that they will say that they are happy to make a contribution towards helping those people in bushfire-prone areas throughout Western Australia. We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
We certainly will be increasing the number of firefighters, not only in the metropolitan area, where there is a huge number—I think it is 116—but also in some of the regional areas. It is very important to have additional firefighters in regional areas, particularly in the South West.
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