Staffing levels for country fire stations satisfactory

Emergency Services Minister Graham Edwards said today he was confident that new staffing arrangements for permanently crewed country fire stations would not reduce the level of fire and rescue protection.

"It is difficult to see how changes in staff arrangements could be a result of so-called budget cuts because the WA Fire Brigade has in fact received an increase in its 1992-93 allocation," Mr Edwards said.

"The brigade budget was increased by $1,280,000 - which is an additional 2 per cent on last year's allocation."

Mr Edwards said decisions relating to staffing arrangements such as overtime were in the hands of the brigade's management.

"I am confident that negotiations between the board and the union can resolve these issues without any risk to the public," Mr Edwards said.

"Much of the criticism being levelled at the Government on this issue is nothing more than political grandstanding, which you come to expect in a run-up to an election."