Jo Tenner said...
Hi Mario,
Thanks for following this issue so closely.
I would be interested to know your thoughts on what would be a more appropriate and fair means of funding the fire services. And if you know of any other proposals that other groups/people may have?
Cheers
Jo
Mario "Coldstream" Galteri said...Jo,
Thanks for asking. I believe that the fire services should be funded the same way other community services are funded, the same way the police is funded, the same way the ambulance service is funded, that is, via state or federal taxes.
Only NSW and Tasmania fund the fire services through insurance premiums. Other states share the burden more equally.
Regards
There seems to be an argument that has not been raised on this issue.
The majority of our bushfires are on crown land where DSE firefighters are paid to fight the fires. The CFA, on the other hand, is there to protect private property.
Thus, I submit that if costings were made on the location of recent fires, we might find that the government should be bearing the cost of the bulk of the funds needed by the levy