Mini-Budget reforms to State Emergency Services will maintain frontline services while still achieving significant savings for the NSW public each year.

Emergency Services Minister Tony Kelly said today that funding reforms in Emergency Services announced in the Mini-Budget would save the State government almost $40 million a year.

Mr Kelly said the reforms would not impact on frontline services or the budgets of the NSW Fire Brigades, Rural Fire Service or State Emergency Service.

"We need to make tough decisions, and this streamlining will not impact on frontline services or affect the agencies' operational capabilities.

"Streamlining and simplifying back-office administrative processes, such as ordering, purchasing and invoicing, will also produce efficiencies among the services, which will in turn lead to additional cost savings."

Mr Kelly said from July 1, 2009, the SES would be brought under the same funding structure as the NSW Fire Brigades and Rural Fire Service, where the insurance industry, local government and the state government all make a contribution.

Emergency Services Minister Tony Kelly today announced the appointment of NSW Fire Brigades Assistant Commissioner Murray Kear as the new Director General of the NSW State Emergency Service.

Mr Kelly said Mr Kear would take up the position next week, following the retirement of current SES Director General Brigadier Philip McNamara.

Almost 90 SES members, family, friends and sponsors participated in the inaugural SES Golf Day held at the Grange Golf Club in Wollongong on Friday 19 September 2008. The day received great support from sponsors with 13 organisations, many of whom are current suppliers, sponsoring golf holes and donating prizes for the presentation.