- Cook Government to deliver 34 additional bushfire management staff
- Funding to support new fire trucks and Albany-based firefighting bulldozer
- New hires to be strategically deployed throughout the South West, Great Southern and Perth Hills
- Funding to be included in 2024-25 State Budget
The Cook Labor Government will deliver more than $30 million to strengthen bushfire management throughout regional Western Australia with additional staff and firefighting equipment.
The funding, which will be included in the 2024-25 State Budget, will support 34 additional bushfire management staff, including more than 20 frontline firefighters, to be deployed throughout the South West, Great Southern and Perth Hills.
Funding will also support an increase in regional fire truck fleets, with a firefighting bulldozer to be based in Albany.
Additional funding will support the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Parks and Wildlife service, which manages fires on almost 27 million hectares of conservation land, such as national parks and State forest, as well as 91 million hectares of unallocated Crown land throughout regional WA.
Parks and Wildlife’s mitigation and frontline firefighting work plays a critical role in managing the bushfire threat across Western Australia, working closely with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, local governments, Traditional Owners, and pastoralists to combat bushfires that threaten regional communities and the State’s natural assets.
As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
“The Cook Labor Government is delivering for regional WA, and putting community safety and local jobs front and centre.
“This year’s Budget will include funding for a dedicated firefighting bulldozer in Albany, supporting rapid response to local bushfires, and 34 new, permanent fire management jobs in regional Western Australia.
“I’m proud to be part of a Government that supports frontline workers who dedicate themselves to protecting regional communities.”
As stated by Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens:
“I know how important these new firefighting resources are going to be for Albany and the Great Southern.
“I am particularly pleased to see new, permanent frontline jobs being created in this region and a new dedicated firefighting bulldozer in Albany to aid a rapid response to local bushfires.”
