Lindsay Tisch National Party Internal Affairs Spokesman
23 February 2005
Burton should come clean over fire brigades
National's Internal Affairs spokesman, Lindsay Tisch, says it is time the Minister Responsible for the Fire Service
Commission came clean over what he plans to do with volunteer fire brigades.
He is commenting on a statement by Mark Burton today.
"This Minister is using weasel words to skirt around the issue.
"He says there is 'no agenda to reduce appliance or service coverage', but nowhere does he mention what is happening to
the number of appliances.
"The Fire Service's own Fleet Strategy document says 'appliance relocations and disposals will be inevitable' if its
proposals are accepted, so who are we meant to believe?
"And where is the consultation with volunteer brigades over this whole issue? As far as I know there has been none. They
have made their decisions and the brigades will be presented with a done deal," Mr Tisch says.
"I know Mr Burton plans to reduce the number of firetrucks. Watch this space."
ENDS