FOLLOWING a recent meeting with local Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU’s) representatives, Labor state election candidate Tony Judge has pledged to fight for an increased supply of firefighters, as well as improved pay and conditions.

Union member Nat La Macchia said that while the population of NSW has grown significantly in recent years, and with it the number of residences, the amount of firefighters working in the state has not risen accordingly.

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“That means that services are stretched, firefighters are stressed and the public is at greater risk,” Mr La Macchia said.

“We want to provide the fastest and best service possible, but the effective cuts in our capacity are making that harder all the time.”

Mr Judge described the treatment of firefighters under the current State Government as “a disgrace”.

“On top of the effective cuts in capacity, they have not had a real wage increase over the course of the current government.

“Compared to many other professions, their purchasing power over that time has effectively dropped.”

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh told News Of The Area that matching population growth is not an effective way to measure the firefighting needs of the state.

“The NSW Government does not accept the FBEU’s method of looking at population growth over the last decade to estimate the number that ‘should’ have been the growth in firefighter numbers.

“Significant population growth in NSW continues, however much of this has occurred in areas already serviced by Fire and Rescue NSW.

“The way firefighters deal with fires and emergencies has changed substantially in the last decade.

“They have better equipment that keeps them safer than ever before while being more effective at dealing with fires and other emergencies.

“This means each firefighter has better knowledge, is more efficient and can do more than they could a decade ago.”
Mr Judge said an elected Labor government would commit to increasing staffing and pay in the fire services.

“Labor will engage an additional 600 firefighters across the State, many in regions like ours.

“That starts us back on the right path to ensuring the security of our lives and our homes.

“We will also remove the Liberal/National government’s artificial salary cap and negotiate in good faith on pay and conditions.

“Firefighters, like nurses, paramedics and other essential workers, need more than thanks and the odd bonus at the political whim of the government.

“They need real, tangible support.”

This week the NSW Liberal Nationals Government has questioned the numbers behind Labor’s 600 firefighter plan.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the $51 million Labor have committed over the next three years for the plan would only cover the starting salary for 250 firefighters.

“Paying wages is just the start, those firefighters wouldn’t be trained, they wouldn’t have uniforms and they wouldn’t have access to workers compensation,” Ms Cooke said.

“When that’s factored in, Labor’s commitment would only provide around 100 firefighters.”

By Doug CONNOR