RFSA seeks urgent meeting with Government on future funding for Volunteers
RFSA seek urgent meeting with Government on future funding for Volunteers.
The NSW Rural Fire Association (RFSA) has expressed its concern with the NSW Government’s announcement of the introduction of an Emergency Services Property Levy (ESPL) to replace the current funding arrangements of the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS). The Association however appreciates the Government’s commitment to ongoing consultation.
“We want to ensure that the Government honours its commitment to provide the appropriate level of funding to protect the safety of the volunteers, and the community, now and into the future. As the organisation representing the 75,000 members of the NSW RFS, we seek an urgent meeting with the Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon. David Elliott MP.” stated RFSA President Ken Middleton.
The Association has been consulting with its volunteers, key stakeholders and the Government since 2011 on the review of Emergency Services funding and commissioned extensive research by Deloitte (http://bit.ly/1OjqqTs). Research findings indicated that the people of NSW, including rural land-holders and many of our volunteers, may be worse off contrary to Government assurances.
“We require a law to guarantee the long term viability of the NSW RFS as a volunteer based, autonomously funded organisation so that relationships with local government and members of the community are not diminished or compromised."