Farmers would be banned from harvesting on high-risk fire danger days under proposed law changes

Country Fire Service volunteers have powers to stop farmers from grain harvesting if they believe it could spark a bushfire, under proposed legislative changes.

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Country Fire Service volunteers would have the power to stop farmers from grain harvesting if they believed it could spark a bushfire, under proposed legislative changes.

Fines would also be issued for a wider range of Fire Danger Season and Total Fire Ban permit breaches under reforms to the Fire and Emergency Services Act the State Government will introduce to parliament today.

The proposed new laws will give CFS officers the power to “direct the cessation of harvesting or any other actions that due to weather conditions may cause a fire, if ignited, to get out of control”.

It comes in response to concerns over some farmers continuing to harvest in high-risk weather conditions.

Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard

The Bill also seeks to create fines for breaches of permit conditions imposed by an authorised officer.

At present, breaches of these extra conditions, sometimes added on top of standard permit requirements, do not attract a fine.

The Bill will also enshrine CFS and SES Volunteer Charters, which outline the structures and functions of the organisations as volunteer entities within the Government, to further protect member interests.

Several other changes have also been proposed to address technical issues raised by emergency services organisations, including:

ADDING further protections for all emergency services volunteers from being sacked if they are absent from work due to responding to an emergency.

BRINGING CFS volunteers in line with MFS officers in relation to having public safety powers to enter and inspect public buildings and enforce safeguards.

Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard said the mooted amendments would “improve the way we go about keeping the community safe from bushfires and other emergencies”.

“These recommendations will ensure the optimal operation of our emergency services for the safety of the entire South Australian community,” he said.

Mr Wingard said the Government “greatly valued the important contribution the CFS and SES volunteers make to the state’s emergency services sector”.

“This is why this bill is so vital, the contribution volunteers make is properly recognised in this key piece of legislation,” he said.