Couple of things Pumprescue
1 USAR is federally funded mostly
2 What new USAR gear?
Also there is more to SES than chainsaws. For example one of the biggest risks here is the river & yet we don't have one "suitable" rescue boat at this end of the river (so we are told anyway). And no money to get one either & state marine rescue is under staffed as well - we share one person with the sea rescue squadrons.
No money for any new Standard rescue vehicles, nor new quick response vehicles either. Yet virtually every CFS brigade here has new vehicles - the latest a QAV at Barmera, so who really is getting a raw deal?
By the way any new SES vehicles you see are in fact fleet hire, which are no more the tugs for trailers(and they want to reduce the number of trailers).
But we will do what we always do - lots with filtered all!
And I asked for a new chainsaw last equipment bid round - hasn't come eyt
cheers
cheers