Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has met with representatives from 18 CFA brigades in the Benalla region to discuss their ongoing challenges and what can be done to improve their situation.
Ms Cleeland said the major concerns raised by the local brigades related to funding insecurity, a lack of government support, their ageing fleet of vehicles, and declining volunteer numbers.
“Our local CFA brigades are rightfully concerned about some of the decisions the Labor Government has made when it comes to protecting and supporting our volunteer firefighters,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We’ve witnessed disastrous decisions by this government regarding fire management in recent times: a lack of planned burns, the closure of the sustainable native timber industry, failure to replace aging vehicles, and the loss of over 6,500 operational CFA volunteers.
“Despite our CFA brigades’ proud history and their vital role in regional towns, this government is hellbent on destroying them and tarnishing their reputation.
“The Labor Government’s lack of support is a death by a thousand cuts to our selfless volunteer firefighters, failing those who risk their lives to protect our regional communities.
“The Allan Labor Government has demonstrated an inability to manage projects, finances, and, now, the safe and effective management of our CFA brigades – a terrifying incompetence for those who live in bushfire-prone regions.”
Ms Cleeland said failing to provide our brigades with fit-for-purpose vehicles, together with several other recent policy decisions, would be putting our communities, and volunteer firefighters, at risk.
Documents from Fire Rescue Victoria revealed that 193 vehicles in the CFA’s 2,322-strong fleet are over 30 years old, while 429 are more than 25 years old.
Within the Benalla CFA fleet, there are at least a dozen vehicles that are no longer fit for purpose.
“So many of our dedicated volunteer fire brigades are stuck with the majority of their vehicles, pumpers, and tankers being over 20 years old,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Many other CFA appliances are listed as being over 30 years old.
“Having met with nearly all brigade captains in the electorate and several volunteers recently, there are serious concerns about these ageing vehicles as well as the culture of the CFA as it deals with a lack of funding and support from the Labor Government.
“I will continue to raise these concerns in Parliament to ensure regional communities are kept safe and that the tireless dedication of our volunteer firefighters is not done in vain.”
