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TAKE ACTION

We don’t have enough firefighters to keep the Australian Capital Territory safe. Tell the ACT Government it must urgently invest in more firefighters and equipment for the ACT.

Help rescue Canberra’s future. Write to Chief Minister Barr now and tell him to put fire safety first. We’ll make sure your letter also goes to your local MP.

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Dear Chief Minister Barr & my local MLA, I’m contacting you again about the ACT on Fire campaign in support of our emergency workers. We need you to commit to helping our firefighters in providing economic stimulus in response to the spread of COVID-19 across the country. We have just had a devastating fire season along the east coast of Australia, and the public’s generosity has led to millions of dollars being donated to fire services and bushfire recovery. Despite this, I have not heard anything from the ACT Government about additional resources for fire and rescue. Firefighters were recognised as the “Canberrans of the Year” but they need more than recognition to do their job. An investment in recruitment, training and equipment is overdue. We are calling on the ACT Government to invest in: <ul> <li>New stations and more firefighters: Funding for more crew and for an additional pumper at a new fire station in Acton by 2021 and Molonglo by 2023.</li> <li>Additional staff and facilities for much needed training: Increased funding for staff training, skills maintenance and future recruit colleges.</li> <li>Additional support staff: More investment into Breathing Apparatus Section, Community Fire Unit support and Technical and Operational Support Services.</li> <li>Firefighters for high fire danger days: Increasing the relief factor from 0.5 to 0.6 to allow firefighters to take leave and reduce overtime costs, to crew bushfire trucks on high fire danger days, and to cover for absences during training and interstate or overseas deployments.</li> <li>Properly crewing new aerial pumper: More funding for additional crew for the aerial pumper instead of relying on 100% crew from ComCen.</li> <li>Workforce planning: part time and flexible work options to support diversity in the ACT’s fire services. Experts support these calls for greater investment.</li> </ul> Yours sincerely,
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We are calling on the ACT Government to act on fire and invest $45 million in fire and rescue support over the next four years.

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