Totally true if it is sold right, same for us with all of the recent storm activity & other recent tasks. However the reasons for increased funds have to be sound. For example a new blue water boat for the West coast was sold on the basis of what was required to continue to provide the level of service safely.
And nobody has complained about your new appliances, PPE or sheds. But if the public see money being wasted or no bang for buck, the cause is lost!
I would think your service chiefs would be lobbying the government, I know ours are. I also think that when the public see volunteers arguing with the services in the media, then we will loose support unless its put in a way that the public can see a direct benefit to themselves.
I know locally when a small sub brigade was closed & the appliance moved to the parent brigade only the voices of the little hamlet were heard. As far as anyone else was concerned, who cares.
Same as the Adelaide Hills unit, at the end of the day what has really changed?
Lobby the pollies directly, if every member of the CFS/SES contacted their local member (especially if in the opposition) then the message will get through.
Your argument on training is excellent, we have the same problem. If that was put to a member of Parliament in a way that said we are happy to do the job but can't because training courses are cancelled all the time, what do you think their reaction would be? Sorry we can't fight that structural fire because we have no one BA qualified, Sorry we can't extract that road crash victim, not qualified. We want to do it but can't - do you think they would sit up and take notice? I do, but as I said the argument has to be sound.
And a lot of people in the community believe we get a renumeration of some sought, some even believe they have to pay for our services!
So as I have said previously you neeed need to work out what you want, then lobby. Sorry I'm not sure your 34p's are a cheap option though, I know that even though our rescue truck is not perfect - as a tax payer seeing $100,000 sitting their not being used everyday makes me wonder if its really cost effective. Again this is the thing we have to be careful of, complaining about everything does not help our case. Sorry for the long rant but having seen where the services have come from & where they maybe heading to, is a real concern of mine.
cheers