Private Member's Bill - Rural Fire Service Assets

Published on 09 October 2023

PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL – RURAL FIRE SERVICE ASSETS

The Berrigan Shire Council continues to fight to ensure the community are made aware of the cost and management status of Rural Fire Services Equipment.  Currently the Auditor-General is insisting Council’s account for State owned and management fleet, effectively hiding the cost and management practices on Council’s books.

Mayor Julia Cornwell McKean said, “Council wants to make it clear to the community that we are grateful and strongly support the work of the volunteers in the Rural Fire Service.  Their continued service is an example of the commitment to service we have in our community.”

“The insistence of the State Government that Councils account for the Red Fleet does not support, nor value the work of RFS,” Mayor Julia said.

The Auditor-General has continued to threaten Councils with qualified audits if they do not account for RFS Assets.  RFS assets are not owned, nor managed by Councils and accounting for them in anyway is a clear breach of not only the Australia Accounting Standards, but would make Council complicit in perpetuating a myth that buries an estimated $2B worth of mobile assets.

Rural firefighting equipment is too important for the NSW Government to continue to play accounting games.  It is not in the best interests of NSW that responsibility for accounting for the assets of the world’s largest volunteer fire service should be split and outsourced to over 100 councils.

“Our Council strongly supports the Private Members Bill that will be voted on by parliament this week,” said Mayor Julia. “Support for that vote is critical in ensuring the Rural Fire Service is able to account for and manage their own fleet in a transparent and accountable way.”

ENDS
Further information:
Keelan McDonald
Executive Assistant
Berrigan Shire Council