Wednesday, 2 April 2025

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (19:23): Regarding the member for Evelyn, who advocated for a new pumper for Montrose CFA, I would advise the member that the CFA’s current firefighting appliances consist of 2226 vehicles, including 1963 tankers, 219 pumpers and 44 pumper tankers. I note the member has suggested that getting new appliances in the CFA has been patchy, so I advise the member that I have recently been to Beaufort and seen their new heavy tanker, to Nar Nar Goon, where I saw their new rescue vehicle, and to Pakenham to officially hand over the keys to their new breathing apparatus support vehicle. That is just in the last month.

In last year’s budget our government committed $18.6 million to deliver 15 replacement urban response pumpers to the CFA. The CFA is also rolling out 48 heavy tankers and two light tankers, funded as part of our government’s $126 million CFA capability package. The heavy tankers have recently been delivered to Mildura, Ballan, Creswick, Daylesford, Miners Rest, Wendouree and many other brigades. In addition, through the volunteer emergency services equipment program grants, recipients will be sharing in $15 million for new trucks, appliances and facilities improvements. The CFA will be receiving more than $11 million to fund 179 initiatives.

I also note that the member did not support the passage of the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025, which increases funding to our emergency services, including the CFA, allowing provision for further investment in these services, including new appliances. The CFA base budget for fleet vehicle replacement is around $13 million per year, and our government will continue to back them, ensuring they have the equipment they need to help them and to keep their communities safe. I will advise the CFA of the member’s advocacy on behalf of Montrose CFA.

The member for Lara has invited me to Corio to visit her CFA, and I thank the member for Lara for her very kind and hospitable invitation. I look forward to visiting her CFA in Corio in the near future. We also had the member for Caulfield, who had an action for the Minister for Education. He sought an upgrade to Caulfield South Primary School. The member for Werribee sought the Minister for Small Business and Employment to sit down with local businesses in his community for a small business forum. The member for Gippsland East had an action for the Minister for Public and Active Transport, seeking improvements to replacement bus services from Gippsland to Southern Cross, such as having direct services rather than having them stop at Pakenham. The member for Ripon invited the Minister for Police to meet with local police and residents at Creswick to discuss crime in her community.

The member for Shepparton had a matter for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, seeking that the minister visit her community to further understand local road issues, including potholes. The member for Narre Warren North had an action for the Minister for Police and wanted him to visit Narre Warren North and her hardworking police officers to see the substantial investment by the Allan Labor government in overhauling that station. The member for Benambra had a matter for the Minister for Environment regarding the sustainability of Victoria’s fisheries. And the member for Point Cook had an action for the Minister for Local Government. He is seeking to work with local government to ensure that local government runs a number of community-based facilities in his community for the benefit of his community.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The house stands adjourned until tomorrow morning.

House adjourned 7:26 pm.