Female firefighters are $25 million worse off under the Minns Labor Government with dedicated funding to upgrade women’s amenities cut from this year’s budget.
The Nationals in Government committed $50 million over ten years to support female firefighters, including new female change rooms and bathrooms, and encourage women to join Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW)
In this year’s budget, the initiative has been renamed the ‘Safe Station Program’ with all references to women and support for increased participation stripped out of its description, and the support transitioned to general upgrade funding.
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Tanya Thompson said working conditions for female firefighters are clearly not a priority for this Minns Labor Government.
“The Nationals back our female frontline workers, that’s why we invested in critical upgrades to encourage more women to join our firefighting ranks,” Mrs Thompson said.
“We support investment into improving safety and functionality across the FRNSW, but this should not come at the expense of funding allocated for female amenities.”
When asked about her involvement in the funding cut during Question Time, the Minister for Women was unable to provide a clear answer, while the Minister for Emergency Services frantically searched for, and scribbled, notes in the background.
Shadow Minister for Women Felicity Wilson said it was incredibly concerning to see support for women in our frontline services fall off the priority list under the Minns Labor Government.
“According to the last FRNSW annual report, women make up only ten per cent of the full-time firefighting workforce,” Ms Wilson said.
“Our $50 million investment was designed to break down barriers for women entering FRNSW, making sure women feel valued and part of the team. It’s disappointing to see the Minns Labor Government walk away from this program.”
