MEMBER for Dalrymple Shane Knuth has spoken out in support of Queensland’s Rural Fire Service saying the State Government’s rejection of practically every recommendation in the Malone Rural Fire Service Review is a betrayal of Rural Fire Service volunteers.
Mr Knuth said key recommendations from the report such as greater local control and increased Government subsidies have been completely ignored.
“The Government has centralised strategic control and taken decision making power from locals who know their area,” he said.
“On top of that, they have increased the rural fire levy in a shameless cash grab, it is disgraceful.”
Mr Knuth said the Minister’s attempts to blame local councils for the massive levy increase to rural businesses were ‘absurd’.
“The new levy scheme has been created by the Government to increase consolidated revenue.
“All levies collected will go back to Brisbane for allocation and rural businesses are being forced to pay thousands of dollars into State coffers while rural firies will continue to have to fundraise for essential equipment.
“This new scheme makes a mockery of the Malone Review and is a kick in the guts for the volunteers of the Queensland Rural Fire Service who risk their lives to protect our community.”
