The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, has called out the Allan Labor Government for its ongoing neglect of CFA volunteers, as repeated concerns and calls for upgrades continue to be ignored.
“The Hazelwood North CFA has been pleading for upgrades to its station for many years and they have been dismissed at every turn,” Mr Cameron said.
“The building is a single roller door shed and a meeting room the brigade was forced to build itself, and there isn’t enough room for volunteers to park without obstructing access to the tanker and appliances.
“The Hazelwood North CFA is a pillar of the Latrobe Valley – volunteers have travelled overseas to assist with fire suppression, they manage the statewide weather station, and they have gone from region 10 brigade to a region 27 brigade in recognition of their enormous work in our local mines.
“It’s hard to fathom how the Minister for Emergency Services can continue to ignore this compelling case, and even harder to accept the fact she refuses to visit Hazelwood North to understand why these upgrades are so desperately needed.
“Volunteers should not have to continually beg for the bare minimum so they can keep our communities safe during disasters.”
This year’s State Budget includes just $13.5 million for regional CFA station upgrades, with no new CFA tankers listed in the forward estimates.
Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee has also confirmed that CFA funding is down by $42 million this year.
Meanwhile, every Victorian who pays rates will soon see the new ESVF appear on their notice – a tax that is doing little to improve frontline capability.
“Every dollar from this new tax should be going directly to CFA stations, trucks and gear – not back into government coffers to cover holes because Labor can’t manage money.
“The government is happy to tax every homeowner, farmer and small business across regional Victoria but when it comes to delivering the bare minimum for our CFA brigades, they go missing every time.”
The Nationals and Liberals remain committed to scrapping the ESVF and restoring proper, transparent funding for frontline emergency services.
