The LNP will take the shackles off the Mt Cotton Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade and protect local communities, including Logan, from bushfire if it wins the October 31 state election.
LNP Candidate for Springwood Kirrily Boulton said the LNP had committed $500,000 for a shed, fire truck, equipment and training for the Mt Cotton Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade.
“With more than 1,000 hectares of fuel load in Mt Cotton and the surrounding suburbs, it is essential that our Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade has the equipment and the support to protect homes and businesses from fire,” Ms Boulton said.
“The LNP has been fighting for years to establish a Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade to protect Mt Cotton from bushfire.
“Labor’s response was to make this the only Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade in Queensland that is not allowed to fight fires.
“In a nation that was devastated by bushfire last summer, this is a sick joke and shows Labor is taking the Redlands for granted.
“I will ensure the communities of Mt Cotton, Shailer Park and Daisy Hill have a trained and ready Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade, who can do exactly what they signed up for, and that is protect our communities from bushfire.”
LNP Candidate for Redlands Henry Pike said the investment in rural fire services would also benefit communities in his electorate.
“Labor has neglected our rural fire service, but things will change under an LNP Government,” Mr Pike said.
“The LNP will give our rural firies the tools they need to protect our communities.
“The LNP will hand back more control to local brigades and we’ll back them up by creating more city-based crews, like they have in other states.”
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Lachlan Millar said the extra funding complemented the LNP’s 10-point plan to improve Queensland’s bushfire preparedness.
“A Deb Frecklington LNP Government will treat rural firies with the respect they deserve and provide them with the equipment they need to keep communities safe,” Mr Millar said.
“Labor is ripping the guts out of our rural fire brigades and our bushfire prevention programs.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government has cut the rural fire brigade budget by $6.4m over the past two years.
“On top of that, Labor met only 54 per cent of their own hazard reduction burning targets in 2016-19.
“Labor has built 40 per cent fewer new fire breaks and cut bushfire education by 45 per cent.
“It’s clear Labor don’t care about community safety.
“Only an LNP Government will back our volunteer firies and ensure communities are protected against bushfires.”
