Country Fire Authority
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:11): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Given the $2.1 billion additional slug on Victorians under the Labor government’s emergency services tax, will the CFA operational budget increase next financial year, and by how much?
Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:12): It is always a great pleasure to stand in this place and talk about the extraordinary work of our Country Fire Authority – these volunteers, these people who work consistently across our state, who do so much to protect our state and are an incredible workforce that I know everybody on this side of the chamber absolutely supports and absolutely respects. We do know the budget will be delivered next week, and we do know that the information that the Leader of the Nationals requires will be found in next week’s budget.
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:13): The CFA budget has been cut each year for the past five years according to both the annual reports and PAEC last year. If Victorians are to pay an additional $610 million in tax next year, why isn’t the CFA getting more money?
Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:13): As those on our side of the chamber at least would expect, I refute the premise of the Leader of the Nationals’ statement. This government continues to invest in the CFA, as we do with all of our emergency services, and we will continue to do so. He is wrong.