State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said that while the Victorian Government had driven up the costs for taxpayers for emergency services, these services, such as the CFA, had been depleted.
Ms Cleeland referenced a report that suggested Victoria’s firefighter workforce had declined by over 20 per cent since 2014, meaning that there were 28,906 operational CFA volunteers, which translated to a number considerably less than half of NSW’s 67,569 volunteer force.
“The CFA has lost its autonomy, volunteers are being forced to rely on 30-year-old trucks, and yet Victorians are paying twice as much for fire services as we were a decade ago,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Brigades are struggling with outdated equipment, recruitment challenges and a culture that has deteriorated under Labor’s mismanagement.”
According to government representatives, there is a fleet of 29 ultra-heavy tankers being rolled out across regional Victoria, which has been backed by $12.8 million in government funding.
Alongside this, the government is also delivering a $7 million rolling fleet replacement program to ensure that CFA and VICSES have long-term stability to replace trucks and keep Victorians safe.
Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward said the government was incredibly grateful for the work volunteer firefighters did in putting their lives on the line to protect Victorians.
“Supporting our volunteers across Victoria is important,” Ms Ward said.
“That’s why in communities like Euroa, Nathalia, Numurkah and Shepparton, we have delivered four new trucks late last year for their brigades.
“Victoria’s volunteer numbers remain strong and have increased in the last year thanks to the successful Give Us A Hand recruitment campaign and local brigade efforts.
“This includes an increase in female participation.”
Ms Cleeland also said the government would be discarding the Fire Services and Property Levy, replacing it with the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund from July 1.
“For the first time, Victorians will be forced to pay a levy for core government services like Triple Zero and Emergency Management Victoria,” Ms Cleeland said.
A government representative said that every single dollar raised by this new fund would go directly back into Victoria’s emergency services.
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