LNP Government Back Down On Emergency Services Cadet Program

Media Release.

Shadow Emergency Services Minister Bill Byrne says today’s announcement by the Newman Government to reinstate the Emergency Services Cadet program is an admission they got it wrong when they scrapped the program last year.

Mr Byrne said Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey had bungled the scrapping of the cadet program from the outset last year.

“Now Mr Dempsey’s Assistant Minister Ted Malone has had to come in to fix his bungle and reinstate the Emergency Services Cadet program,” Mr Byrne said.

“This is another embarrassment for Mr Dempsey, who already needed Mr Malone to clean-up his rural firies debacle.

“It is clear the Assistant Minister Ted Malone should actually be the Minister, as he is the one doing all the work.

“It is obvious Mr Malone has more of the necessary experience and knowledge to be the Emergency Services Minister after being the Shadow Minister for 11 years.

“Mr Dempsey needs to admit he is out of his depth and step aside,” he said.

Mr Byrne said the admission by the LNP Government that they got it wrong on scrapping the Emergency Cadet program was good news for all the young people who were involved in this important program.

“Mr Dempsey said last year the Government would save $1.18 million by scrapping the Cadet program, he now needs to explain how the new program will be funded,” he said.

“Now the PCYC are running the new cadet program is the funding for it coming out of the police budget?

“When the previous program was scrapped last year Mr Dempsey was highly critical of the 10% uptake from the Cadet program to adult SES programs.

“Mr Dempsey now needs to guarantee that the new Emergency Services Cadet program will have a higher take-up rate than the previous program,” Mr Byrne said.