The Hon. CHRISTINE ROBERTSON: I address my question to the Minister for Emergency Services. Will the Minister advise the Chamber about the firefighting competition that is being held in Tamworth this week?

The Hon. TONY KELLY: I would like to thank the Hon. Christine Robertson for her question. It comes close to where she lives, 15 kilometres from Duri. Since the weekend more than 250 firefighters from around New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand have been in Tamworth competing in the 2008 NSW Fire Brigades State Firefighter Championships. The six-day event began on Saturday night with a torchlight procession through the streets of Tamworth and the Fire Spectacular, which included mock firefighting demonstrations and fireworks displays. With just one more day of competition to go, 35 teams are vying for the honour of becoming the 2008 State champions. I understand that the team from Nowra is currently in the league, but teams from Kelso, Coffs Harbour and Glen Innes stations area are also competing strongly, as is the team from the Kootingal-Moonbi Rural Fire Service close to Tamworth.

[Interruption]

The Hon. Christine Robertson: Point of order: I am unable to hear the Minister's answer.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I ask the Clerk to stop the clock and the Minister to resume his seat. The importance of question time is obvious to all members, as it is to the Chair. It is robust by nature, and according to tradition the Chair tolerates interjections that, although strictly disorderly, facilitate debate and meaningful discussion across the Chamber. However, the interjections by members at this time are most disruptive, such that members are unable to hear the responses of Ministers to questions asked of them. I am reluctant to interfere with the rough and tumble character of question time, but I urge members to be considerate of their colleagues and reduce the level of interjections in order that other members can hear the answers of Ministers.

The Hon. TONY KELLY: This is an important answer. I should also mention that a number of teams competing this year include father-son duos, including the father-son duo team from the Wellington Fire Brigade—my hometown—of Mark and Michael Moroney. Mark's father, Alec Moroney, was the fire captain in Wellington before him. In fact, Wellington has three father-son duos: Mark and Michael Moroney, Doug and Malcolm Ney, and John and Jamie Hunt. In fact, the rural fire service brigade has many father-son-grandson duos. Family ties are one of the real strengths of our emergency services.

[Interruption]

The Nationals are never interested nor want to listen about the volunteers in the country who are looking after our fire services. Family ties are one of the real strengths of our emergency services with successive generations often continuing the family tradition of serving their community.

The competition is designed to reflect the diverse roles of firefighters in 2008. The majority of competitors are on-call firefighters whose dedication and commitment is vital to ensuring the safety of hundreds of our regional communities. Teams have so far completed 12 of the 16 events, designed to reflect the skills and expertise that modern firefighters use every day, including ladder practice and hose and hydrant work. This morning firefighters tackled a new rescue event—the first time it has been contested at a State championship. The NSW Fire Brigades has 180 accredited rescue units across the State and all New South Wales firefighters are trained in rescue. This event showcases the skills of NSW Fire Brigades firefighters in this area. The State Firefighter Championships are obviously a great opportunity for our firefighters to practise and showcase their impressive skills. The biennial championships also provide a great opportunity for firefighters to build relationships with other brigades and other fire services. That is why it is particularly pleasing to see teams from others States and New Zealand taking part this year.

Another significant part of the championships revolves around community participation and education. The event is a chance for people to see our firefighters in action and to familiarise themselves with steps they can take to protect homes and families from the threat of fire and other emergencies.

The Hon. CHRISTINE ROBERTSON: I ask a supplementary question. Can the Minister elucidate his answer?

The Hon. TONY KELLY: A number of educational displays have been set up around the competition ground and many spectators of the championships have taken the opportunity to talk to firefighters about how they can prevent and prepare for fires and other emergencies. Hundreds of kindergarten and year 1 students from schools around the Tamworth region have taken part in the Fire Brigades Fire ED program. Through this program kids have learnt important fire safety messages—such as dialling 000 in an emergency, Get Down Low And Go, Go, Go, and Stop, Drop And Roll—which they will hopefully share with their families and friends. High school students have taken part in the Rescue ED program, which is delivered by firefighters experienced in road accident rescue who can convey to young people the devastating consequences of motor accidents. I thank the people of Tamworth for their support of the State Firefighter Championships and particularly the local council, which has put many months of effort into building a competition track suitable to host this great event.

The Hon. Trevor Khan: A great council.

The Hon. TONY KELLY: It is a great council. It has done a fantastic job in this instance and on its equine centre.

The Hon. Trevor Khan: Absolutely. All it needs is a bit more money.

The Hon. TONY KELLY: I made the original offer of a grant many years ago. It took the then Federal Government a long time to come up with its money. I am very pleased that having made the first announcement of a grant by this Government I was to be able to give, I think, $4.5 million to start off that fantastic equine centre. I look forward to reporting back to the Chamber on the successful 2008 NSW Fire Brigades State Firefighter Championships.