Melbourne electorate
Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (14:39): (76) My question today is for the Minister for Emergency Services. The Footscray SES, which covers my electorate and my home in Kensington, do incredible work with their highly trained team of volunteers. Last year they responded to the Maribyrnong flood. However, they do not have the funding to properly resource their operations to serve and protect the community, especially as climate disasters get worse. They operate out of the back of a dusty shed used by the local council as a vehicle thoroughfare, creating hazardous working conditions. They do not even have enough vehicles to respond to emergencies, with their boat being reallocated to another unit. Their tin shed office can barely even get phone reception or wi-fi. The working conditions make it hard for them to get enough volunteers. They operate on the smell of an oily rag. With disasters increasing due to climate change our community relies on the SES to respond. Will the government commit to better funding for the Footscray SES serving my electorate so that they can protect our communities when they are needed?