RFSA urges MPs and candidates to sign Pledge of Support for volunteers
MPs and candidates for the coming NSW election have been urged to sign a Pledge of Support for volunteer firefighters and to advocate for the ongoing independence of the Rural Fire Service.
The Pledge of Support, created by the Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) which advocates on behalf of volunteer firefighters, also spells out support for members who are injured serving the community, and the need to ensure volunteer firefighters have the resources they need to do their jobs properly.
In launching the Pledge of Support at Eulomogo near Dubbo today, RFSA President Scott Campbell said it was vital that election candidates expressed their strong support for the RFS.
“Volunteer firefighters are so important to protecting communities across our state. Not only do they come to the fore during bushfire emergencies, but recent years have seen RFS volunteers turn up time and again to support the community through flood operations, in many areas serving as the predominant emergency service through these events,” Mr Campbell told volunteers at Eulomogo as part of a 12-night tour of the state by the RFSA to thank them for their relief efforts in the recent floods.
“That’s why the RFSA is calling on MPs and candidates to pledge their support for our members in the lead up to the state election.
“As the representative body for the volunteers and staff of the RFS, the RFSA counts over 42,000 RFS personnel as members – more than 99% of them volunteers.
“We don’t have a long list of specific demands, rather a fairly simple request to ensure the independence of the RFS, support members who are injured serving the community, and ensure volunteer firefighters have the resources they need to do their jobs properly.”
The RFSA will circulate details of candidates who have signed the pledge to its members ahead of the election. It is asking for pledges to be returned to communications@rfsa.org.au by Friday 10 March.
“This is a way of making sure there is not just recognition of the amazing work that is being done by these volunteers – work which wouldn’t happen if governments had to pay for it – but also support for the RFS and the volunteers in the long term,” Mr Campbell said.
“They need to be looked after if they are hurt in the line of duty and they need to have the right equipment to do their job to protect their communities.
“These people are heroes and they deserve to be supported by the people putting themselves forward to run the state.”
Click here to read the Pledge of Support