The Nationals in Government will invest $136 million to purchase a Western Australian owned aerial
firefighting fleet and deliver a much-needed boost to local government volunteer facilities and staffing to
keep WA families and communities safe.
Leader Shane Love MLA and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Martin Aldridge MLC announced
the commitment today to make WA a national leader in aviation firefighting.
Mr Love said $60 million would fund the purchase of a WA owned Aerial Firefighting Fleet, including a
C130 Large Air Tanker, lead plane, and four Blackhawk helicopters, providing WA with a year-round
response to bushfires and other natural disasters.
“Over 90 per cent of WA is bushfire prone, and a drying climate means our bushfire season is getting
longer, hotter, and more dangerous than ever before, yet we continue to rely on leased aircraft from
outside of Australia to fulfil our rapid aerial response,” Mr Love said.
“WA currently spends $11 million over four years to lease a large air tanker from overseas for just
three months of the year, and another $10.1 million over two years for just two Blackhawk Helicopters.
“It would be far greater value for money for WA taxpayers, and provide a far greater service to WA, if these
aircraft were purchased, owned, and operated in WA, year-round.”
Mr Love said the recent Bushfire Royal Commission – in the wake of the horrific 2019-20 bushfire season
– recommended a sovereign aerial firefighting capability be progressed.
“The Royal Commission called for all States and Territories to take a greater role in their aerial firefighting
needs, but the Cook Labor Government has failed to show any leadership,” Mr Love said.
“Relying on other States to provide aircraft in an emergency is a recipe for disaster, with the report
pointing out WA was particularly vulnerable due to its distance, resulting in difficulties and delays in
obtaining aircraft at crucial times.
“When disaster struck near Cervantes last month, WA had no LAT available, because our lease does not
begin until December 1, meaning we were reliant on borrowing aircraft from interstate.
“The Nationals in Government will deliver a significant investment into our emergency services by
purchasing a WA Aerial Firefighting Fleet which will make WA a leader in disaster preparedness and
response, and which will keep communities safe.”
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Martin Aldridge MLC said The Nationals WA would also deliver a
$76 million boost to local governments to fund upgrades and improvements for fire stations, SES facilities,
and provide additional staffing for emergency management.
“Local government volunteers are responsible for the initial fire response to over 90 per cent of WA’s
landmass, and The Nationals WA will deliver a huge funding boost to help fund much-needed
improvements to bushfire and SES facilities,” Mr Aldridge said.
In the most recent round of the Local Government Grants Scheme (LGGS), the State Government paid
out just $3 million in facilities funding, yet a further 82 applications which met the grants criteria, totalling
over $35 million, were left unfunded.
“The Nationals in Government will deliver a one-off $45.5 million commitment to clear the backlog of
requests and commit additional annual funding, worth $2.8 million, to the LGGS each year to ensure it is
sustainable into the future.”
A further $20 million over four years will fund the expansion of the Community Emergency Service
Manager Program with the creation of an additional 27 positions working across 54 local government
areas, funded through the Emergency Services Levy.
“Local Government’s have long been calling for an expansion of this program, which will help bolster local
emergency management capability across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery,” Mr Aldridge
said.
The Nationals WA have previously committed to establish a new, standalone recovery agency – the WA
Recovery and Resilience Agency – and to expand presumptive Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
protections to all emergency service volunteers.
