Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has expressed her support for SES units during the most recent sitting week of Parliament, calling on the Labor Government to provide them with a more sustainable and reliable funding stream.
“In the past year, SES volunteers have responded to over 33,000 requests for assistance, however, their annual funding covers less than half of their operating expenses,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The dedicated volunteers of our SES are crucial for our regional communities, and it is imperative they receive funding that allows them to continue delivering this essential service.
“Having met with units across the region, it is clear they are in need of more support from this Government as SES volunteers continue to drop everything to respond to fires, floods, power outages, and traffic accidents.”
This year’s State Budget has been delivered in one of the busiest years ever experienced by the SES, and left several dedicated and hard-working volunteers at the SES feeling short-changed due to a lack of funding to sustain or improve the important volunteer emergency service.
“Seymour SES, despite going through two significant floods in the space of a year, was left shortchanged in their funding subsidy, leaving them rattling tins to raise funds,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We’ve seen the Benalla SES double their average yearly callouts with 507 requests for assistance last year, while the Kilmore SES has already responded to 35 serious road crash accidents out of their 250 callouts this year, including 11 fatalities.
“The same can be said for the Euroa SES, who following power outages earlier this year, responded to over 50 callouts in a single day.
“These volunteers are risking their lives yet are left having to fundraise extensively within their own communities just to have fit-for-purpose vehicles and facilities.
“It is time for this Government to step up and ensure our SES units are properly funded so they can continue to keep our communities safe during emergencies.”
