❓ Mrs. Maynard asks about the Cook Labor government's investment in locally manufactured firefighting appliances and its impact on WA jobs and emergency services capability. Minister Papalia responds by highlighting the government's commitment to WA-made equipment, detailing the number of appliances and rescue boats provided, the investment amount, and the involvement of WA subcontractors and suppliers.
AnsweredQoN 660Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Emergency services—Firefighting appliances660.Mrs Michelle Maynardto theMinister for
Emergency Services:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to keeping Western Australians safe.(1)
Can the minister update the house on how the government's investment in locally
manufactured firefighting appliances is supporting Western Australian jobs?(2)
Can the minister outline how this investment will strengthen our state's
emergency services capability?
Emergency Services:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to keeping Western Australians safe.(1)
Can the minister update the house on how the government's investment in locally
manufactured firefighting appliances is supporting Western Australian jobs?(2)
Can the minister outline how this investment will strengthen our state's
emergency services capability?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 November 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr Paul Papalia replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for her question.
It is true that the provision of not just firefighting appliances but alsorescue
boats is a happy coincidence, an alignment of objectives by which we are
upgrading the quality of our equipment to ensure our emergency services are
provided with world-class equipment. Happily, that equipment is being made in
WA. It is not in any way by accident that this has occurred. I remember back in
2017 when the decision was made in government—Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Paul Papalia:—to ensure that as we
re-equip our emergency services as much as possible, that equipment is made in
WA. Since that time, more than 700 appliances and rescue boats have been
provided right across Western Australia to equip our emergency responders, at
the cost of more than $258 million.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!Mr Paul Papalia:The beautiful thing is that the
providers, the builders of that equipment, are right across the state. The member
for Swan Hills will be happy to know that more than 50 WA subcontractors are
involved, with more than 290 suppliers statewide in the supply chain. That is
part of Made in WA.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Paul Papalia:There are light tankers for Kiara,
Ellenbrook and Mundaring brigades; urban tankers for the East Swan Volunteer
Bush Fire Brigade; and a heavy flood rescue boat for Belmont SES—Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!Mr Paul Papalia:—part of a recent $1.5 million
rollout.Ms Rita Saffiotiinterjected.The Speaker:Treasurer!Mr Paul Papalia:Last month I was in Margaret River
for a $7.1 million announcement and handover of equipment to the lower South
West.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!Mr Paul Papalia:Is this interrupting your
conversation, Leader of the Opposition? I am sorry to talk about emergency
services and equipment made in WA.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Paul Papalia:I think the Leader of the Opposition
is smarting a little bit after yesterday. I think perhaps that is what is going
on. He is a little bit sensitive. He is talking right across his deputy leader there.
That is interesting.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Minister! Members!Mr Paul Papalia:There is supply of this equipment
right across Western Australia. We have Frontline Fire and Rescue Equipment in
Malaga and Collie. Not yet, member for Collie–Preston! I will tell her
about it later. There were 409 appliances, with 101 staff employed in
delivering that equipment. Technifire in Canning Vale made 13 appliances, with
13 staff in Perth. Paull & Warner Resources in Kewdale and Collie made 43
appliances, with 35 staff in Perth, 19 in Collie. Isuzu in Osborne Park in
Canning Vale made 72 appliances. It has two staff in Osborne Park. There are 13
staff at Hidrive. Bull Motor Bodies in O'Connor made 220 pods. That is not part
of the 678. It has two staff in Perth.It is a good news
story that this government changed previous practices to ensure that our
equipment is world-class and that our emergency services personnel are provided
with the best possible equipment, which is made in WA.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members! Leader of the Opposition! There
were some unnecessary interjections on the minister then. I struggled to hear
the response because of it. Hopefully, Hansard was able to capture it, because the
minister provided a lot of very good information.
Emergency services—Firefighting appliances
It is true that the provision of not just firefighting appliances but alsorescue
boats is a happy coincidence, an alignment of objectives by which we are
upgrading the quality of our equipment to ensure our emergency services are
provided with world-class equipment. Happily, that equipment is being made in
WA. It is not in any way by accident that this has occurred. I remember back in
2017 when the decision was made in government—Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Paul Papalia:—to ensure that as we
re-equip our emergency services as much as possible, that equipment is made in
WA. Since that time, more than 700 appliances and rescue boats have been
provided right across Western Australia to equip our emergency responders, at
the cost of more than $258 million.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!Mr Paul Papalia:The beautiful thing is that the
providers, the builders of that equipment, are right across the state. The member
for Swan Hills will be happy to know that more than 50 WA subcontractors are
involved, with more than 290 suppliers statewide in the supply chain. That is
part of Made in WA.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Paul Papalia:There are light tankers for Kiara,
Ellenbrook and Mundaring brigades; urban tankers for the East Swan Volunteer
Bush Fire Brigade; and a heavy flood rescue boat for Belmont SES—Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!Mr Paul Papalia:—part of a recent $1.5 million
rollout.Ms Rita Saffiotiinterjected.The Speaker:Treasurer!Mr Paul Papalia:Last month I was in Margaret River
for a $7.1 million announcement and handover of equipment to the lower South
West.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition!Mr Paul Papalia:Is this interrupting your
conversation, Leader of the Opposition? I am sorry to talk about emergency
services and equipment made in WA.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Paul Papalia:I think the Leader of the Opposition
is smarting a little bit after yesterday. I think perhaps that is what is going
on. He is a little bit sensitive. He is talking right across his deputy leader there.
That is interesting.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Minister! Members!Mr Paul Papalia:There is supply of this equipment
right across Western Australia. We have Frontline Fire and Rescue Equipment in
Malaga and Collie. Not yet, member for Collie–Preston! I will tell her
about it later. There were 409 appliances, with 101 staff employed in
delivering that equipment. Technifire in Canning Vale made 13 appliances, with
13 staff in Perth. Paull & Warner Resources in Kewdale and Collie made 43
appliances, with 35 staff in Perth, 19 in Collie. Isuzu in Osborne Park in
Canning Vale made 72 appliances. It has two staff in Osborne Park. There are 13
staff at Hidrive. Bull Motor Bodies in O'Connor made 220 pods. That is not part
of the 678. It has two staff in Perth.It is a good news
story that this government changed previous practices to ensure that our
equipment is world-class and that our emergency services personnel are provided
with the best possible equipment, which is made in WA.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members! Leader of the Opposition! There
were some unnecessary interjections on the minister then. I struggled to hear
the response because of it. Hopefully, Hansard was able to capture it, because the
minister provided a lot of very good information.
Emergency services—Firefighting appliances
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