Lindsay Tisch National Party Internal Affairs Spokesman
23
February 2005
Burton should come clean over fire
brigades
National's Internal Affairs spokesman, Lindsay
Tisch, says it is time the Minister Responsible for the Fire
Service Commission came clean over what he plans to do with
volunteer fire brigades.
He is commenting on a statement
by Mark Burton today.
"This Minister is using weasel words
to skirt around the issue.
"He says there is 'no agenda to
reduce appliance or service coverage', but nowhere does he
mention what is happening to the number of
appliances.
"The Fire Service's own Fleet Strategy
document says 'appliance relocations and disposals will be
inevitable' if its proposals are accepted, so who are we
meant to believe?
"And where is the consultation with
volunteer brigades over this whole issue? As far as I know
there has been none. They have made their decisions and the
brigades will be presented with a done deal," Mr Tisch
says.
"I know Mr Burton plans to reduce the number of
firetrucks. Watch this
space."
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