Check back often see Tony's latest updates about your community. Articles featured on Tony's Blog will also be included in our regular paper newsletter, Enlightened.
Tags: Gawler / Public Transport
Tags: Gawler / Light Electorate / Safety
Local MP Tony Piccolo with local firefighters, (from left to right) Joe Steiner, Jarrod Sandery, Brett Schumacher and Matt Simusen.
The Marshall Liberal Government’s refusal to provide funds for basic safety equipment is placing the lives of local firefighters at unreasonable risk.
The United Firefighters Union (South Australia Branch) has launched a campaign to make the community aware of the added danger firefighters are facing when doing their jobs due to the Marshall Liberal Government’s apparent lack of plan for providing basic fire appliance upgrades to improve safety.
Local Member of Parliament Tony Piccolo said fire appliances still do not have burn over protection to increase the safety of firefighters when they are assisting with bushfires.
“Many Metropolitan Fire Services (MFS) in peri-urban areas often back up their Country Fire Service (CFS) colleagues in fighting bushfires which requires them to travel through areas while fires are raging,” Mr Piccolo said.
“Gawler is a classic example of an MFS Unit required to support CFS and SES units in nearby rural areas.
“The lack of burn over equipment on these fore trucks puts firefighters at an unreasonable risk.
“Firefighters are not seeking pay increases but rather greater resources for firefighting facilities.”
Mr Piccolo said what is of greatest concern is that the Marshall Liberal Government do not appear to have a plan to upgrade facilities and firefighting equipment.
“With the bushfire season getting longer and more serious, we need a well-resourced emergency service to ensure both fire fighters and the community are being kept safe,” he explained.
“If the Marshall Liberal Government has a plan, they should make it public, as it would provide firefighters and the community with some clarity and confidence that the matter is being addressed.”
Tags: Gawler / Light Electorate / Schools
Local Member of Parliament Mr Tony Piccolo with (from left) student Renee Chamberlain, teacher Tunya Greenhalgh, and student Alex Prior.
CONTINUE READINGTags: Gawler / Local Infrastructure / Roads
Tony Piccolo MP discussing with residents their concerns.
CONTINUE READINGTags: Gawler / Light Electorate
Mr Piccolo standing in the Gawler South Character area
CONTINUE READINGTags: Gawler / Light Electorate / Volunteers / Safety
Tags: Gawler
Will the door (in the background) to the Gawler Housing SA Office remain shut for ever ? Local MP says this would be a disaster for vulnerable local housing sa residents and people in need.
Local Housing SA residents are concerned the temporary closure of the Gawler Housing SA Office because of COVID-19 restrictions will become permanent.
Located on Seventh Street in Gawler South, the Housing SA Gawler Office has been a service for vulnerable members of the Gawler area to seek help for various issues relating to housing.
However, with the office closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is believed the Government has taken the opportunity to quietly close the service and relocate its staff to other offices.
All six of the office’s employees have been shifted to surrounding Housing SA locations such as Elizabeth, Salisbury and Modbury, leaving Gawler with no direct service over the past few months.
Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo said the move would spell bad news for those living with a disability who are unable to fully access public transport or use computers, as they would be left with few options when looking to seek assistance from the nearest Housing SA office.
“Sadly, the suspected closure of the office has taken place without any form of consultation with those in the community and has not been publicised by the Marshall Liberal Government.
Mr Piccolo expressed his disappointment at the supposed decision, stating that it would be unacceptable for one of the town’s most essential services to be secretly shut down.
“It has been typical of this Government to ignore the needs of our most vulnerable members of the community, so hearing about the alleged move to shut down Gawler’s Housing SA office has left me upset and angry,” Mr Piccolo said.
“To leave these people without a local office, and without giving so much as a hint of prior warning, would be simply inexcusable.”
Those living in the Gawler area would have to travel to either Elizabeth or Salisbury to visit a Housing SA office, 15km and 22km from the former site of the local office respectively.
Tony Piccolo with Lutheran School Officers (SSO’s) at Immanuel Lutheran School, Gawler during SSO Week.
CONTINUE READINGTags: Gawler / Building Communities / Shadow Ministry
At the modest birthday celebrations were (centre) Axillary President , Mrs Lyne Sibenaler, other members , and Local MP (far left) Tony Piccolo and Paul Little, President of the Gawler RSL.
CONTINUE READINGSubscribe to our newsletter
