A parliamentary committee examining Tasmanian Fire Service funding will meet for the first time next week, following three major blazes in the state’s South in recent days. In the wake of the blazes, United Firefighters Union state secretary Greg Cooper said his members’ capacity to protect Tasmanian communities was being compromised by a lack of resourcing and funding cuts.

However, the Tasmanian Fire Service dismissed the fire safety concerns. So, too, did the state government, which labelled 

the claims ‘‘false and dangerous scaremongering’’.

Acting Emergency Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma argued the state was better prepared than ever for the coming bushfire season after comprehensive fuel reduction programs.

Ms Petrusma said there had been no reduction in firefighting aircraft, the building of new tankers, or funding for community information and preparedness programs.

‘‘There has been no reduction in frontline TFS firefighting officers,’’ she said.

‘‘Forestry Tasmania also advises that it has recruited casual and temporary firefighters over the bushfire season to ensure they, too, are at full complement.’’

Opposition leader Bryan Green said Tasmanians deserved to 

know that the TFS wasn’t being compromised through a 

merger with the State Emergency Service, which the UFU claims they have taken responsibility 

for without any extra funding provided.

Mr Green said Labor also wanted to know if the State Fire Levy would be increased to plug any funding gaps, with unions saying $5million had been bled from  their budget over the past two years. 

‘‘We must make sure the TFS has the resources it needs to do its work with confidence,’’ he said.