Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Anthony Roberts today backed the refusal by volunteer groups to act as ‘police’ under new laws introduced for World Youth Day.

“I find it appalling that the Labor Government would seek to use State Emergency Services and Rural Fire Services volunteer personnel to control ‘annoying and inconvenient’ conduct including the authority to order people to remove clothing and impose fines up to $5500,” Mr Roberts said.

“I fully support the decision by SES Director General, Brigadier Philip McNamara, and the RFS Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, not to allow their volunteers to enforce these new laws,” he said.

“Placing volunteers untrained in policing in potentially hazardous situations is downright dangerous and stupid.

“Our volunteers deserve more respect from the Iemma Labor Government. 

“The volunteers role is to help this major event run more smoothly by assisting police in general traffic control and safety measures such as bag inspections.

“They are not front-line policemen and women who know how to deal with bad conduct.”

Mr Roberts questioned the need for such draconian laws anyway which he said had not been requested by the Catholic Church.

“NSW Police operated effectively under existing enforcement legislation, and were quite capable of controlling large crowds who wanted a peaceful celebration,” he said.