Thursday, 14 August 2025

Country Fire Authority Bendigo station

Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. The Labor government promised Bendigo a new fire station in 2019, but work has not yet begun. A temporary station –

Members interjecting.

Danny O’BRIEN: The Labor government promised Bendigo a new fire station in 2019, but work has not yet begun. A temporary station was built at a cost of $2.4 million, not including the land value, and completed in 2022. It has never been used and continues to sit idle. Is it because of Labor waste like this that Victorians are now getting emergency services tax bills in the mail slugging them an extra $3 billion?

Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:36): I thank the member for his question. The answer is no.

Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:36): Golden Square fire station sat unused for six months due to water pressure issues. Why must Victorians pay –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask members to cease reflecting on the Speaker. The Leader of the Nationals will be heard in silence, Premier.

Danny O’BRIEN: Golden Square fire station sat unused for six months due to water pressure issues. Why must Victorians pay the price because Labor cannot manage projects and cannot manage money?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Nationals and the Premier will come to order. I do not want to have to remove you from the chamber, Premier.

Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:37): I thank the member for his supplementary question, the premise of which I reject. It is great to see the CFA in their new Golden Square digs.