State Emergency Service Rescue TruckThe New South Wales State Emergency Service is a volunteer emergency service located throughout Australia and responds to emergencies related to natural disasters, Search and Rescue either land or sea.
This particular truck is used for storm damage, so it has a ladder (see roof) and in the back compartment would have equipment to make repairs to properties affected by storms. Note the periscope on the side (the black tube thing is connected to the vehicle's engine air intake), so most likely it is driven through water during floods.
Quite effective vehicle, commercially available Toyota Hilux turbo diesel.
Picture added on 28 August 2009 at 19:53