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Out of
the Frying Pan into the Fire Incoming Emergency Services Michael Wright should listen carefully to the advice he is being given in his new portfolio says Member for Flinders Liz Penfold. Mrs. Penfold said the Minister needed to make sure that the decisions made under his watch are the right ones. “Circumstances regarding the site chosen for the combined emergency services facility in Port Lincoln have significantly changed,” she said. “Council don’t want it there nor do the people in the community who are aware of the proposal and its long term ramifications. This includes many of the volunteers and at least some of the paid personnel involved.” Mrs. Penfold has submitted a written objection to the MFS component of the plan to State Parliament’s Public Works Standing Committee (see attached) when they meet next Wednesday. She will attend the hearing to discuss the issues with committee members. However Mrs Penfold said that despite the committee not yet having had a chance to look at the proposed joint emergency services facility, it appears to be a fait-a-compli according to SAFECOM CEO, in the Port Lincoln Times article on 31st July 2008. The article reveals that: “Construction will start soon on Port Lincoln’s new $7.5 million emergency services centre on Stevenson Street and that tenders had already been called for the new MFS station.” Mrs Penfold said, “This government has been put on notice by the regional people of South Australia regarding their arrogance over the hospital debacle. They are being equally arrogant with emergency services.” The Public Works Committee is the Parliamentary Committee responsible for ensuring government funds are legitimately allocated with very specific terms of reference. “If parliamentary process is being undermined by bureaucracy then it is farcical for these Committees to continue” she said. “I have no doubt some bureaucrats would prefer they were disbanded to avoid the checks and balances that are presently in place”. “Unfortunately the way it is set up, the committee is only able to consider at the MFS component however all three components of the project should be considered together and the Minister should ensure that they are. I invite the new Minister to see the locations for him self and talk to the local people”, |
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