The establishment of Marine Rescue Queensland brings together volunteers from the Volunteer Coast Guard Association and Volunteer Marine Rescue, meaning the State will have a single, unified rescue capability on all its waterways.
Minister for Fire and Rescue Services, Mark Ryan said the Government’s allocation to marine rescue services would eventually increase six-fold and result in continuing annual funding for Marine Rescue Queensland of $27 million.
“This certainty with funding supports the already well-progressed transitional work under way,” Mr Ryan said.
“It will mean more modern vessels that are better equipped and better maintained to provide our valuable volunteers with an enhanced capacity to keep Queenslanders safe on the water.”
He said the Government allocation would, for the first time, fund permanent support staff for marine rescue operations.
“In addition, Marine Rescue Queensland will be better aligned with Queensland Police Services Water Police, further cementing the already close relationship our volunteers have with the Water Police,” Mr Ryan said.
“The sweeping reforms we are introducing all have one objective and that is to provide an enhanced ability for our front-line responders to keep Queenslanders safe.”
He said by combining volunteer rescue efforts into a single entity, Marine Rescue Queensland, and having it work even more closely with Water Police would mean better coordination.
“The very significant boost in funding will mean a significant uplift to support better equipment, better boats and more support services for our wonderful volunteers,” the Minister said.
