NSW Police Force and Fire and Rescue NSW

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-106446

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

NSW Police Force and Fire and Rescue NSW

Ms MELANIE GIBBONS (Holsworthy) (11:47:50):

I move:

That this House:

(1)Notes community safety will always be a top priority for the Government.

(2)Notes on 2 July 2019 the Premier and the Minister for Police and Emergency Services announced 450 new police officers.

(3)Notes on 19 July 2019, 16 new firefighters graduated and will now serve across New South Wales.

(4)Applauds the NSW Police Force and Fire and Rescue NSW for their enduring service. I am proud to support our emergency service workers who, day in and day out, protect our communities.

The Coalition Government has always made community safety a priority. As a government, keeping the communities that you represent safe is the most basic requirement. That is why I am pleased to serve as the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services in a Government that has again delivered record funding to our emergency service organisations. During the election campaign we announced that the New South Wales Liberal‑Nationals Government would provide an additional 1,500 police over the next four years. I am proud to say that we are delivering on this promise, with 450 additional police to be assigned to local stations and specialist areas over the next 12 months to protect communities and to fight crime. I know that this announcement will be welcomed by the hardworking and dedicated police officers, particularly in my local police area commands of Sutherland Shire and Liverpool City. All these officers, led by Superintendents Jason Box and Adam Whyte, do an amazing job in ensuring that our community is safe and secure. I thank them for their service.

The Government is investing a whopping $1.7 billion in emergency services, excluding the NSW Police Force, to ensure that New South Wales is well prepared for the times when our emergency service agencies are put to the test. This funding will also ensure we foster a community that is resilient to disasters and emergencies. This investment represents an increase of about 6.6 per cent on the 2018‑19 budget, or about $105 million. To put this Government's investment in our emergency services in perspective, 10 years ago in the 2009‑10 budget Labor wrote, "The combined expenses of the State Emergency Services, New South Wales Fire Brigades and the Department of Rural Fire Service are expected to be $847.3 million." This Government is investing $826 million in Fire and Rescue NSW alone, while also delivering record investments in our volunteer frontline services. The NSW State Emergency Service [SES] will receive $141 million in 2018‑19, an increase of 3.9 per cent from 2017‑18.

The NSW SES Operational Fleet Replacement Program has been allocated $16.3 million. This funding will allow NSW SES to procure new vehicles, marine vessels and trailers. Over the next four years we have committed an unprecedented $73 million in extra funding to our non‑government volunteer rescue organisations to enhance rescue capabilities across the State. This includes funding of $16 million to Surf Life Saving NSW and $1 million to Surfing NSW. The Surf Life Saving NSW funding boost comes on top of the existing $1.7 million per annum provided under a longstanding cooperative agreement. The new funding will provide new community engagement officers in East Ballina, Warriewood, Nowra, Tathra and Tighes Hill. These staff will work in the community and run programs to help educate people about beach safety.

There will be 10 new emergency response beacons at coastal blackspots. There will also be a beach wi‑fi trial to better communicate with and educate swimmers, particularly international visitors. This will involve real‑time safety alerts, translated into seven different languages. There will be major operational support for Surf Life Saving NSW's 129 clubs, including jetskis, vehicles, wetsuits, lifejackets, helmets for jetski operators and increased training. This funding also includes an additional $18.8 million over the next four years for the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association and an additional $37.6 million for Marine Rescue NSW. With this record boost to their funding, both the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association and Marine Rescue NSW will be able to modernise and enhance their vehicle and vessel fleets. It is because of the Coalition Government's strong economic record that we are able to ensure our emergency services continue to provide the exemplary services they are known for.

I recently had the distinct pleasure of representing the Government at the graduation of 16 new firefighters from the State's new training facility at Orchard Hills. These new firefighters will be deployed to stations all across our metropolitan areas such as at Seven Hills, Marrickville, Cranebrook, Arncliffe, Gladesville and Rydalmere. On the day it was interesting to hear the backstories of these new firefighters. They have come from various fields such as being teachers, crane operators, police officers, commercial divers, physiotherapists, plumbers, paramedics, baristas and lifeguards and there was even a cheerleader. They are united by the same motivation: to serve the people of our State. I thoroughly enjoyed congratulating these firefighters on their graduation and I know everyone here would agree with me in wishing them the very best as they embark on a challenging but worthwhile career. This was not the only Fire and Rescue NSW graduation that has occurred in the past month. On 5 July Minister Lee, who is in the Chamber, attended the Indigenous Fire and Rescue Employment Strategy, or IFARES, program graduation—

Dr Geoff Lee:

Fantastic program.

Ms MELANIE GIBBONS:

—yes, a fantastic program—where 18 Indigenous people graduated. This program is a joint initiative of TAFE NSW and Fire and Rescue NSW and it provides students with the information and skills they need to proceed to the main Fire and Rescue NSW training program. The program saw participants of a range of ages attain a TAFE NSW certificate IV in fitness and complete an intensive week of training at the Fire and Rescue NSW Training Academy. Students received an introduction to firefighting equipment, breathing apparatus and HAZMAT gear, urban search and rescue, bush fire fighting, fire investigation and building fire safety. They also gained job application skills and received mentoring from Indigenous Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters.

I am proud to say that since its introduction in 2014, 51 of the Indigenous Fire and Rescue NSW graduates have gone on to become firefighters. I saw one of them achieve just that the other day. As reported in Dubbo's Daily Liberal, Minister Elliott travelled to Barwon and Dubbo on 24 and 25 July to make several official openings. The Minister announced the handover of four new Rural Fire Service trucks in Barwon, including new category one fire tankers, costing $320,000, for the Curban Rural Fire Brigade. The Minister also officially opened the first stage of the Rural Fire Service's new $23.8 million training facility in Dubbo and one of the State's first State Emergency Service and Volunteer Rescue Association's joint operational facilities. I again thank each and every member of our emergency services who keep our State safe.

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ (Auburn) (11:55:12):

Every day officers of the NSW Police Force are out there working to keep New South Wales a safe place for everyone. On a daily basis the police are putting their lives on the line, dealing with violence, tragedy and the growing risks of terrorism. Unfortunately this work often comes at a great cost to the police officers themselves. It is right that we applaud the service of the officers of the NSW Police Force and Fire and Rescue NSW for their service.

Community safety should always be at the top of the list of priorities of any government. It fundamentally underpins our ideal of democratic government, where the State retains the monopoly on the use of force to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all our citizens in New South Wales and beyond. We rely on the experience and expertise of our police and emergency services to maintain human rights so that everyone in our society has the right to live without fear or the threat of violence. New South Wales police officers undertake the most difficult tasks and usually are the first on the scene of what are often horrific violent crimes, abuses of children, sexual assaults and fatalities. In lending us their experience and expertise in these circumstances they often pay an extraordinarily high emotional price that stays with them for the rest of their lives.

Every day our police officers are making difficult choices when they are dealing with members of society with some of the most complex social problems. Often they are not only required to be experts in their field but also are our frontline response to deal with mental health, drug addiction and social inequality such as homelessness and grinding poverty. The additional numbers of police officers make that work a little easier. But additional police should be underpinned by a well-equipped administrative team and other government services that police rely on. Police are making complex decisions every day that often impact the lives of those they deal with.

I have had conversations with police officers who speak of their frustration at repeatedly dealing with people with obvious mental health and/or drug addiction problems whose primary contact is with the NSW Police Force. Government must do better in providing more drug rehabilitation and mental health crisis support to relieve pressure on the police. The police must have the tools they need to ensure safety and security on the streets and sometimes that means people are best placed in a drug rehabilitation facility so that our police officers are not the frontline of mental health response. Government must do better at putting processes in place to ensure that it is not just left to the police to deal with those who need assistance in the public domain.

We live in a changing world and the risks that sworn and unsworn police officers face every day are more complex and challenging than at any time in the past. At this time, with the threat of terrorism and the potential for random attacks, our police undertake an extraordinary task, particularly through the expert use of intelligence, to reduce the risks. But the risks still exist. Any member who has been here for some time as I have will have seen Parliament House transition from an open building with special constables prohibited from carrying weapons to a building with numerous restrictive security measures and a well‑armed security force. The attack on the police headquarters in Parramatta—a direct attack on our police—is indicative of the intent of those who would do us harm. Those who defend us, both sworn and unsworn police officers, deserve the support of Government both when undertaking their jobs and afterwards.

I ask the Government to note the following case. On 2 October 2015 three special constables responded to an incident in front of the police headquarters at Parramatta. Risking their lives to respond whilst being fired on, they were successfully able to neutralise the perpetrator and minimise harm to bystanders. The primary responder returned to work and has been receiving payments for ongoing counselling and medication from EML in accordance with worker's compensation entitlements. However, as the responder had returned to work full time, those payments were scheduled to cease in June 2019 pursuant to section 59A of the Workers Compensation Act 1987. Only by taking additional time off, which greatly added to the responder's financial and emotional stress and anxiety, were payments renewed for a further two years. Despite the cut-off, this responder is reminded of the incident every time there is a news story on terrorism. As members of Parliament, we can do better for those who protect us.

In rural areas our police force is covering large distances, often in a single patrol. Over the next decade the Government has predicated an additional one million residents in western Sydney alone and this increasing population and associated problems that come with it will put pressure on New South Wales. This State requires a well‑equipped and trained workforce and I am sure the commissioner will welcome an additional 450 police officers. I wish all our newly graduated police officers and firefighters the best and assure them that they have the support of all members of the New South Wales Parliament.

Mr MARK TAYLOR (Seven Hills) (12:00:57):

It is an honour and privilege to support the motion moved by the member for Holsworthy concerning members of the NSW Police Force and Fire and Rescue NSW. Very soon the member for Holsworthy and I will act as a firefighter for a day, which we might make a non-media event. Community safety is the number one priority of any government. A fundamental duty of a good government is to ensure that its citizens are protected from harm. It is critical to equip our frontline police with the necessary resources and technology and to have an appropriate number of police officers across this great State.

Recently I was pleased to hear the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, in company with the Premier, announce that 450 new police officers will hit the beat this financial year as part of the Government's historic commitment to increase the NSW Police Force by 1,500 new officers over four years. This is the largest increase in police numbers across this State in over 30 years, and represents a total investment of $583 million. It is pleasing to know that those officers will be going far and wide across the State. As the Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Justice, I am pleased to know that many of them will be posted in areas around the Seven Hills electorate, in western Sydney and also in regional areas where they are needed.

I commend the Minister for his recent announcements in regional areas, particularly in Walgett, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Goulburn. He announced improvements to many police stations throughout the State and in the metropolitan area, including the new Bay and Basin Police Station at Sanctuary Point and a new station at Mount Druitt in western Sydney, which is closer to my electorate of Seven Hills. Not only will police numbers increase, but also resources and equipment will be provided to frontline police who are doing a difficult job to better protect the people of New South Wales. The Government will deliver $19.6 million for almost 11,000 new light armour vests for police across New South Wales. Those vests provide the best possible ballistic and stab protection without impacting the officers comfort and ability to carry other equipment as they go about their mobile duties on a day-to-day basis.

I have mentioned the new police stations down south and also in the metropolitan area. New police stations will also be provided at Bega, Goulburn and Monaro. Other equipment will be added to our frontline police across New South Wales including 4,850 body-worn video cameras to assist frontline officers in taking very important evidence at crime scenes. There will also be mobile technology to allow officers to instantly access the police system whilst on the beat and a total of 1,000 fingerprint scanners will be rolled out through 2019 to allow police to take fingerprints and identify offenders. It is an absolute pleasure to support this motion, not only to recognise the good work being done by our police right across this State but also knowing that the Government is supporting them with further increases in police numbers, greater resources and better police stations.

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (12:04:54):

This motion yet again reveals the cynical self-interest that drives this Government. The member for Holsworthy routinely comes to Parliament with inane motions that do little to contribute to public debate. On 8 May she moved a motion to congratulate the Government on its election result two months earlier. Today we are forced to listen to the crow and spin about the Government's mismanagement of the emergency services sector. The member for Holsworthy tells us that the Government is a friend of emergency services but Labor—and, more importantly, emergency services workers and volunteers—know this is a lie.

In the recent budget the Liberal-Nationals Government cut $12.9 million from recurring funding to Fire and Rescue NSW. There is no way that Fire and Rescue NSW can cut $12.9 million from its budget without cutting back on shifts, crewing and overtime for frontline staff—our fireys! This comes on top of a $26 million cut in this year's budget to Fire and Rescue NSW's capital expenditure budget. This is a huge hit to its capacity to renew and upgrade its equipment, firefighting appliances and premises. This is the truth of the Government's so‑called commitment to the emergency services and it repeats itself throughout the sector. The Government has cut $4.8 million from recurring funding to the Rural Fire Service and a staggering $75.2 million from its capital expenditure budget. How is that for a thank you to the volunteers? The State Emergency Service is forced to spend valuable volunteer time and public money patching up and repairing tired, clapped-out vehicles that the Government refuses to replace—that is the reality of the fleet replacement program.

The volunteers who sustain those organisations know the truth. They are not watching Parliament today listening to the craven nonsense of the member for Holsworthy; they have better things to do. However, they know that the Government is made up of a bunch of bankers who come in here and bank on about what a good job they are doing while making cuts to essential services that the community relies upon. It is disgusting. At the last election Labor promised to fund 200 new firefighters. We made that promise because we know that Fire and Rescue NSW anticipate attending 13,000 more fires this year than last. The member for Holsworthy boasts about attending the graduation of 16 new firefighters; however, this number does not come close to addressing the attrition rate of retirements in the organisation. The overall number of firefighters is not growing but is declining in the long term. The workload for our firefighters grows each year but their funding and their workforce is cut with each successive Liberal budget.

There is dishonesty in this motion. It really is a self-congratulatory motion. The member for Holsworthy could instead do some good with her time in this House and lobby the emergency services Minister to properly fund the sector. The member should implore Minister Elliott to do his job in Cabinet instead of rolling over each week for the Treasurer to rub his belly. As the new shadow emergency services Minister I extend my gratitude to our emergency service workers across the State. I will fight in this place for them and the resources they need to provide community safety.

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (12:08:53):

We have heard a complete work of fiction from the new shadow Minister. I was never a banker, and I know the member for Holsworthy was not a banker. The shadow Minister is off to an anything-but-stellar start. I thank the member for Holsworthy for bringing this motion before the House as it recognises that community safety should always be a priority for governments. Our emergency services personnel protect us from harm, rescue us from danger and assist us in all types of circumstances. They are extremely deserving of our gratitude. That is what this very good motion is for. It acknowledges all the hard work that our police, Fire and Rescue personnel and fantastic volunteers at the Rural Fire Service do for our community.

On 16 July I was delighted to host my friend and colleague the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, at Wamberal Rural Fire Brigade on the Central Coast where he and I presented the brigade a $1,672 discretionary grant for an honour board to recognise the service of its former captains, deputy captains and life members. The Wamberal Rural Fire Brigade facility has had extensive modernisation. I look forward to going to the opening of its soon-to-be-refurbished fire station, which did not get one dollar from members opposite when they were in government. Over the past four years we have been funding several upgrades so that brigades can improve their service to their communities.

The Wamberal station, which got not one dollar from members opposite, was one of the first that I had the privilege of visiting after being elected in 2015. Minister Elliott was also the Minister for Emergency Services at that time. It was great to have him back so he could see the development and progress at that station, which Captain Angela Burford and her team outlined. Those people do an amazing job and an enormous public service by putting their lives on the line to protect people and property. Since 2015 Wamberal Rural Fire Brigade has progressed in leaps and bounds. I was proud to assist the brigade in securing much-needed funding from this Government. After many years of hard work, a brand new building that fits two fantastic, clean and shiny fire trucks has been completed. I look forward to returning in the next few weeks when the facility is officially opened.

To the south of my electorate is the Empire Bay Rural Fire Brigade, to which the Minister recently presented an $8,000 grant for a thermal imaging camera. Members opposite did not allocate one dollar to that fire brigade either. The camera uses state-of-the-art technology to assist firefighters to identify hotspots after a blaze has been extinguished. It can also be used before firefighters approach a blaze, which helps them to better know what they are walking into and how to stay safe. Empire Bay is one of the original rural fire brigades on the Central Coast. It has an incredible history of which its volunteers are incredibly proud and which has cemented its place in our local community. Across the region we are lucky to have dozens of rural fire brigades staffed by hundreds of men and women volunteers.

Indeed, the Central Coast is the volunteering capital of Australia: Our region has a higher proportion of volunteers than anywhere else in the nation. Volunteers are vital to the fabric of our communities. The Empire Bay Rural Fire Brigade also plays an active role in local events. A simple example is the fire trucks that are used during Anzac Day ceremonies to ensure the safety of participants. Whether it be more resources and equipment for fireys or more police on the ground—a record number of police are working across the State, including on the Central Coast—the Government is delivering for the emergency services. I commend the motion to the House.

Mr DAVID HARRIS (Wyong) (12:12:57):

I support the work of our police and Fire and Rescue NSW staff across the electorate of Wyong and the State. We have police stations under the Tuggerah Lakes Police District at Wyong, Toukley and in the neighbouring area of The Entrance, which covers some of my electorate too. I think highly of Superintendent John Gralton and the job he does. I meet with him regularly to discuss various issues in the electorate. All members attend special awards days for our police. At the last one I attended, Constable Rachel Johanson and Senior Constable Kerrie Wells deservedly received National Police Service Medals for 15 years of service. Our police force at Tuggerah Lakes has a good record of clean-up rates for murders and for tracking down missing people. They do a fantastic job.

We have Fire and Rescue stations at Berkeley Vale, Hamlyn Terrace, Wyong, Toukley and nearby at Budgewoi and Doyalson, with a mixture of professional firefighters and retained firefighters. I note that the Toukley retained fire brigade is advertising locally for more members. I have supported their recruitment drive on Facebook and encourage people to get in contact with them if they are interested in joining. I saw the work they do up close; I got to be a firefighter for a day at Wyong. I participated in that program and then went to the firefighter championships at Norah Head to watch brigades from across northern New South Wales compete against each other. I have the highest regard for them.

An important part missing from this motion is how we support our frontline service people not just with equipment but also in terms of the job that they do. We know that shiftwork and erratic hours present an increased risk. A study carried out last year found that emergency workers are paying a higher psychological and physical price for being the first on the scenes of deaths, traumas, violence, chaos, disease and extreme temperatures. We know that first responders are more likely to have injuries. The study found that firefighters and emergency workers had more injuries to their lower bodies, legs and feet, while police officers had a 13 times greater risk of mental health conditions than people in other similar professions. We also know that within any 12-month period many of our frontline police and fire officers are off work on workers compensation and stress leave.

As well as putting resources into material items, which is very important, we call on the Government to do more to support the mental health and physical wellbeing of our staff. It is no good putting extra police out there if injuries continue at the current rate. We are great at recycling people through the system, but if we support them better while they are in the system then they will not have to be replaced as quickly. I pass on my great thanks to all first responders, emergency services personnel and their families for the job they do for our community. We cannot live without them and they deserve our utmost respect and support.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo) (12:17:10):

By leave: As the member for Dubbo, which is a city that is growing in stature as a hub of emergency services training in this State, I thank the member for Holsworthy for moving this motion. More and more government and private sector agencies are choosing regional centres like Dubbo to construct major pieces of infrastructure, and with good reason. Through the wonders of modern technology, the divide between city and country has narrowed. There is not much that can be done in Sydney that cannot be done in places like Dubbo, including emergency services training. There also is not much that can be built in Sydney that cannot be built regionally—although I am not sure we necessarily want to see the CBDs of regional cities completely mirror the concrete jungle of Sydney's high-rises.

There is little doubt that since the Liberal-Nationals came to government in 2011 regional New South Wales has experienced a massive boost in the development of infrastructure. While I am only fairly new to this place, I know we have been receiving the input and support of the emergency services themselves, including the Rural Fire Service, the State Emergency Service [SES] and the Volunteer Rescue Association [VRA], and I am keen to see that continue. When the Coalition Government was returned in March of this year the Premier and Deputy Premier each vowed to listen to the needs of people in the bush. That promise relates to not only getting our farmers and graziers through the drought but also ensuring that our regional communities are set up with the infrastructure to ensure that we can continue to develop at the rate we deserve.

In Dubbo we are embarking on a building spree that is unprecedented. But bricks and mortar are not enough; planning needs be utilised to make sure that we reach our full potential. Last Thursday 25 July was a great example of what can be done. I was joined by my good friend and colleague the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to open the new Rural Fire Service training facility at Dubbo Regional Airport. This State‑of‑the-art compound is worth more than $23 million and provides Dubbo and the rest of regional New South Wales with a training and fire monitoring facility that is the equivalent of its Sydney counterpart. It has video-link capabilities, a fully functional state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and canteen area, on-site accommodation and many other features that had the Minister in awe.

For the first time we also have a Rural Fire Service with a state-of-the-art facility located in a regional area. A few hours later we went a couple of hundred metres down the road to open the new State Emergency Service and Volunteer Rescue Association complex, which allows for the safe storage of rescue equipment. The two organisations have different but equally vital charters. The SES rightly states that the worst in nature brings out the best in its members, while VRA officers have the unenviable task of attending serious incidents such as fatal accidents or drownings. By sharing the new facility, the two organisations will have the capability to train together, share knowledge and bounce ideas off each other. Rounding out the new precinct is the new police training facility, which has been announced for the airport but with construction yet to start.

Minister Elliot was briefed by Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, Commander of the Western Region for the NSW Police Force, on what that facility will contain. The facility will complement the police academy at Goulburn and will be used for annual training and updated programs for officers. It will ensure that our thin blue line is at the cutting edge in modern training techniques. In isolation each facility would be fantastic but, through collaboration with the agencies, the New South Wales Government and the Dubbo Regional Council have been able to turn Dubbo into the heartbeat of emergency services in this State. It is fantastic. Last weekend the city's growing reputation brought 21 teams, including three from overseas, to town for the Australasian Road Rescue Championships, which were coordinated by the Australasian Road Rescue Organisation. Unfortunately we cannot do everything—we cannot make it rain to end people's suffering—but building infrastructure like this for our emergency services is vital. I commend the motion to the House.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (12:21:16):

By leave: I thank the member for Holsworthy for moving this motion and all members who have contributed to this debate. I acknowledge the wonderful work of first responders not only in my local community but right across the State and country. The New South Wales Government is committed to supporting our emergency service workers and volunteers, and the families who support them. They all do such wonderful work; it is a great cause. Over the years I have visited my local State Emergency Service units in Hurstville and Kogarah, and recently I visited the Marrickville unit on behalf of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. I also acknowledge the wonderful work they do at that unit. Since coming into government we have done what we could to increase the emergency services budget to help the NSW State Emergency Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is a myth that we have decided to cut services over the years. The former shadow Minister's accusations are wrong.

I thank all emergency service workers, particularly those in my electorate. As the member for Dubbo said, they are the first responders. They are there in the floods, storms and fires. Over the years we have experienced many such occurrences across Sydney and I have witnessed them working to restore power and ensure our communities are safe. I acknowledge all of those workers and volunteers, particularly those from the Hurstville SES unit with whom I have worked to ensure their building is upgraded and that they get the best equipment. I acknowledge also the work of former Minister for Emergency Services and former Minister for Police, the Hon. Troy Grant. He did an outstanding job in this space. Again, I thank the member for Holsworthy and all those who work in emergency services across this State.

Ms MELANIE GIBBONS (Holsworthy) (12:24:28):

In reply: I thank members representing the electorates of Auburn, Seven Hills, Blue Mountains, Terrigal, Wyong, Dubbo and Oatley for their contributions to this debate. I will start with the member for Blue Mountains; I am sure she is expecting it. I never thought it would be considered inane to acknowledge the first elected female Premier of this State—particularly by someone whom I know has always talked about smashing glass ceilings and supporting women. She has talked about it, but apparently when it comes to acknowledging it in the historic record in this House it is inane and does not matter. On that, the member for Blue Mountains is all talk. Yesterday, when I sought precedence for this motion today, I was surprised that the member for Blue Mountains voted against it. She says she supports emergency services and women, but when it comes to debating that in this Chamber and recording it in Hansard she is all talk. I do not get where she is coming from.

Let us focus on the positives. This Government has delivered historic funding for an historic number of new services and facilities for police and emergency services. As the member for Seven Hills said, Bay and Basin Police Station was opened on Monday. I know how excited the member for South Coast was about that opening. I saw her on the weekend and she was incredibly excited about the difference that will make to her community. The electorates of Bega, Mount Druitt and Goulburn are all getting new stations. I am thrilled with the new police station at Liverpool, the new bushfire station at Menai and the Rural Fire Service station at Sandy Point. They are all making a huge difference. Perhaps that is how the member for Blue Mountains could get things to happen—with a bit of honey, rather than whatever came out.

We have more stations, more police and more resources. We are making a difference in communities not just in Sydney but all across the State. The member for Dubbo talked about his massive day of meeting people and ribbon cuttings with the Minister for Police and Emergency Services; really getting to know the needs of those communities and addressing them. That is incredibly important. Just over a year ago the Holsworthy electorate was engulfed in flames—from almost the western corner at Casula across to the east at Barden Ridge. The bushfires came very close to many homes. In fact, back fences were burnt. We have so many firefighters from so many electorates to thank—the Terrigal electorate also sent members down there to look after my community. Five hundred firefighters came down and over 100 appliances were deployed. The dedication of those fire services resulted in no major loss of property or life. We believe that 888 homes were directly saved. Communities were protected because of the people that came down and the resources they had to protect our community.

I thank my local emergency services personnel who came to the community's aid when it was under threat: Menai Bushfire Brigade, Sandy Point Rural Fire Brigade, Casula Rural Fire Brigade, Liverpool State Emergency Service, Sutherland State Emergency Service, Fire and Rescue Liverpool, Fire and Rescue Menai, Sutherland Shire Police Area Command and Liverpool City Police Area Command. They made a huge difference. Without that strong and effective emergency services sector, the result could have been much worse. I am thrilled that our Government is investing $1.7 billion into our emergency services. I know it will make a huge difference.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.