9262 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Internal Affairs

9262 (2026). Mike Davidson to the Minister of Internal Affairs: How many new volunteer firefighter recruits have completed induction since 7 November 2025 and what proportion of them have had live fire training, if any?

Hon Brooke van Velden: I am advised that since 7 November 2025, 212 volunteer firefighter recruits have completed recruit training. Live fire training is not a core requirement of the volunteer firefighter recruit course; it is delivered when volunteers progress to qualified firefighter rank. All volunteer firefighters who progress to qualified firefighter rank receive live fire training. Of the 212 recruits who have completed recruit training since 7 November 2025, 35 recruits have undertaken live fire training in live fire cells. The remaining recruits have not undertaken live fire training in live fire cells. This includes 91 recruits trained at the National Training Centre, who received live fire training using gas props only, and 86 recruits trained at Woolston, who did not receive live fire training. • Live fire training is only one aspect of the training provided to ensure firefighters can safely and effectively respond to structure fires. The skills volunteer recruits obtain through other elements of training transfer directly to real incidents, to which they respond under the direction of more qualified firefighters. Live fire training is offered as supplementary training to recruits when circumstances allow.