Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib grilled over firefighter’s fuel cards ‘maxed out’

The NSW Emergency Services Minister was grilled over why the RFS faced issues over “maxed out” fuel cards while battling blazes on the state’s north coast.

The NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib has been grilled over an internal memo that revealed RFS firefighters in the Coffs Harbour region were unable to purchase fuel while fighting bushfires across the state.

The memo, dated October 26, was presented on Tuesday during budget estimates by Nationals MP Wes Fang, said cards used by crews to buy fuel had been “maxed out,” which meant crews had to limit the use of their “Motorpass cards”.

Reading out the message, it said: “Morning all, we have nearly maxed out our limit on our Motorpass account – this means we have to limit the use of the Motorpass cards at (this) time”.

“It may take a few days to fix the issue (sic) … If you have any concerns or need fuel urgently, please contact me ASAP. Please make sure you advise all members that drive vehicles.”

The memo indicated. Picture: Facebook/ Rouse Hill Rural Fire Brigade

Mr Dib was then asked by Mr Fang whether he had “allowed your RFS trucks to not be able to even fill up on their cards?” and was asked what would in an emergency.

Although the Minister said he wasn’t aware of the issue, he said he’d “look into it”.

“We’ve got at the moment 85 fires, seven total fire bans right now, there are a number of things that are happening,” he said.

Later, Rural Fire Commissioner Rob Rogers said it was an issue with the local council, and it was quickly resolved.

“There was a spare card made available and there was also an assist to say if it won’t affect strike teams leaving to help other parts of the state.

“There was an Ampol card provided to do that, but the issue was rectified one day after.”

The concerns come as extreme fire dangers have been called across NSW, with about 81 fires burning across the state, and total fire bans across Sydney, the Illawarra/ Shoalhaven region, and large areas of the state’s north.

Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said he was unaware of the issue but said he’s ‘look into it’. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Pool/ Bianca DeMarchi

Opposition spokesman for emergency services, Gurmesh Singh said the revelation was “should alarm communities right across NSW”.

“Today’s revelation that RFS volunteers have been told that their fuel cards have reached their limit should alarm communities right across New South Wales”, he said.

“The Minns Labor Government has cut $30m from the RFS budget compared to last year, and these budget cuts are finally starting to have real world impacts on the safety of our communities.

“With bushfires burning in nearly every corner of the state, we need confidence that our brave volunteers have the tools they need, and importantly the fuel they need, to bring these fires under control.”