Tasmanian firefighters the loser, as Labor infighting continues

The Rockliff Liberal Government is acting to secure our fire and emergency services for the challenges of the future. 

Fresh out of hiding, the Opposition Treasury spokesman comments on vital Tasmania Fire and Emergency services reform are unfortunately devoid of both substance and logic. 

Just today, the United Firefighters Union (UFU) explained how the SES and TFS needed critical funding, to deal with the fires, floods and emergency events of the future. 

Why hasn’t Mr Broad asked the firefighters what they want before taking this cheap political stand?  

From Michelle O’Byrne’s noteworthy silence on the issue, his comments clearly go against the position of the Shadow Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency Management. 

The internal divisions within the Tasmanian Labor Party appear ready to bubble over once again. 

One thing the Opposition did get right was that there is need for reform.  

However, in typical Labor fashion they have no plan and won’t commit to any credible path forward.  

What is our Shadow Treasurer’s solution?   

Tasmanian Labor’s toxic negativity shouldn’t extend to preventing our emergency services personnel from keeping Tasmanians safe.

Unfortunately for Tasmania, it appears that there’s nothing this Opposition won’t oppose for political reasons, until the inevitable BecFlip occurs under the cover of darkness. 

In contrast, this Government’s reforms will set Tasmania’s emergency services up for the future of increasing fires, floods and emergency events. 

Further information 
Labor Myth 1 – “The Government is proposing a new tax”: The Government is abolishing one of three levies for the TFS (the insurance levy) and reforming the remaining property and motor vehicle levies to make them fairer and simpler. 

Labor Myth 2 – “The proposed changes are a big revenue increase”: The insurance and property levies raised $94 million in the last financial year. Under the proposal it is expected that the total raised will be $105 million recognising the increase in extreme weather events and natural disaster risk. This is about setting the fire and emergency services up for the future. 

Labor Myth 3 – “The proposed changes are not equitable”: The proposed changes, as noted by the United Firefighters Union just today, equalise rates across Tasmania so that people with similar properties pay the same rates.  

Labor Myth 4 – “There is no support for these reforms”: This is the second time today that Dr Broad has been called out for making disparaging and generalised comments about Tasmanians, embarrassingly forgetting the firefighters and emergency services who these reforms are for so they can save lives.