The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland has blasted the Allan Labor Government for cutting emergency services funding at the same time it is introducing a new Emergency Services Tax that will take more than $3 billion out of Victorian pockets.
Despite promising to improve frontline response, Labor’s own budget papers show significant funding reductions across key emergency agencies, including those the government used to justify the tax.
“These cuts prove this tax was never about improving emergency services,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Labor is ripping money out of the CFA, SES and Fire Rescue Victoria while asking local families, farmers and small businesses to pay more. Once again, our regional communities are footing the bill and getting less in return.”
Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee has revealed:
- CFA funding is down by $42 million
- Fire Rescue Victoria funding is down by $115 million
- SES funding is down by $8.4 million
In total, $464 million worth of emergency service agency budgets that were previously funded through general revenue will now be covered by the new tax. This shift saves Labor money by forcing Victorians to pay more while receiving less support on the ground.
“This is typical Labor. Grow the bureaucracy, shift the financial burden onto local communities, and leave our volunteers under-resourced,” Ms Cleeland said.
Just $13.5 million has been allocated for regional CFA station upgrades, and there is not a single new tanker listed in the forward estimates. By comparison, $10 million a year is being directed to Fire Rescue Victoria fleet replacements and another $10 million to Forest Fire Management Victoria, both now funded by the tax.
Ms Cleeland said the Strathbogie CFA is one clear example of Labor’s ongoing neglect.
“They are still operating out of a shed with no toilets, no water and no changerooms, despite being in a high-risk bushfire area and having multiple female volunteers. They have been pleading for support for years and still have nothing to show for it.”
Last year, internal documents revealed 193 CFA trucks are more than 30 years old and 429 are more than 25 years old.
This includes the Benalla CFA, who currently have two-wheel drives and single cab trucks that are both over 30 years old.
“Some of these trucks are older than the people driving them. Volunteers across our region are being left behind, and they know it,” Ms Cleeland said.
Meanwhile, as road conditions worsen, SES volunteers in towns like Kilmore have seen their callouts increase significantly – increasing the need for additional funding support.
“Every dollar from this tax should be going to the frontline. Instead, Labor is using it to balance its budget while leaving our emergency services to scrape by.”
Concerned community members can voice their opposition to the Emergency Services Tax at http://scrapthetax.com.au or contact Ms Cleeland’s office on (03) 5762 1600 or annabelle.cleeland@parliament.vic.gov.au.
