Weatherill Government spends $550,000 on botched Emergency Services reforms

28May

Evidence to the State Parliament’s Economic and Finance Committee today has revealed the Weatherill Labor Government’s failed Emergency Services amalgamations have cost taxpayers $550,000, with greater losses to come.

“Emergency Services Minister Tony Piccolo has lost the confidence of emergency service volunteers, failed to implement reform and wasted a significant amount of taxpayer’s money, said Committee Member Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

“Increases to the Emergency Services Levy is hurting households and small businesses while the Weatherill Labor Government has spent over half a million dollars to receive nothing in return.

“Minister Piccolo needs to be held accountable for this disgraceful waste of taxpayers’ money – $550,000 would have enabled the CFS to train and equip 367 new volunteers.

“Instead the Weatherill Government is jacking up the ESL by another 9 per cent to compensate for Minister Piccolo’s incompetence.

“The Economic and Finance Committee also heard that there is now a review into the failed reforms which will cost taxpayers even more money.

“Evidence given to the Committee also indicated the Weatherill Government hasn’t ruled out attempting to implement these botched reforms in the future.

“Instead of learning from their mistakes and engaging the sector in genuine consultation to produce positive reforms the Weatherill Labor Government is throwing good money after bad.”