Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Victorians are facing fewer lifeguards on our beaches this summer despite the government charging Victorians an additional $3 billion in tax, supposedly to support our emergency services. Why are Victorians paying more and getting less?
Sam Groth interjected.
The SPEAKER: The member for Nepean can leave the chamber for half an hour.
Member for Nepean withdrew from chamber.
Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:38): I thank the member for his question, and I reject the premise of his question. On this side of the chamber we are always consistent in the deep respect that we have for our emergency services workers, including those who work along our waterways, helping to keep Victorians safe. We have beautiful waterways in this state, and we want people to be safe. We have strengthened the funding to Life Saving Victoria since coming to government. This includes more than $21 million to support lifeguards, build new clubs and deliver new boats, drones and equipment. And thanks to the ESVF, we have doubled the volunteer emergency services equipment program so that our hardworking surf lifesavers have the new equipment they need to keep Victorians safe on our beaches. I was recently in the member for Bellarine’s electorate – a fantastic, beautiful electorate – where we met with the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club. What we did was we not only spoke to the hardworking volunteers and thanked them for their work but also saw how they had been backed with a new patrol vehicle, new trailer and two new rescue boats.
Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, on the question of relevance, the question is clearly about paid lifeguards and why Life Saving Victoria is seeking money. I ask you to bring her back to the question.
Mary-Anne Thomas: Speaker, on the point of order, there is no point of order. The member was very clear. It was about Life Saving Victoria, and the minister on her feet was speaking directly to the question that was asked of her. I ask that you rule the point of order out of order.
The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.
Vicki WARD: I really want to thank the member for Bellarine for her ongoing advocacy for her surf lifesaving clubs and the incredible work that they do. The investments that we are putting in are already ensuring faster responses and safer beaches for Ocean Grove and of course across Victoria.
I think it also needs to be noted that those opposite cannot be trusted to fund these important emergency services that help keep Victorians safe. And why is that? That is because they do not support the funding that we are actually creating. They do not support the work that we are doing.
Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is clearly debating the question. This is about fewer lifeguards on Victoria’s beaches and why Victorians are getting less. I would ask you to ask the minister to stop debating the question.
The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.
Bridget Vallence interjected.
The SPEAKER: Order! Manager of Opposition Business, I ask you not to reflect on my rulings.
Vicki WARD: We fund our emergency services much more than those opposite have ever done. We are funding nearly $2 billion in this budget in our emergency services, more than double what those had when they were last in government. It is very clear that it is not this side of the chamber our emergency services need to be worried about when it comes to funding, because we are investing well in our services. It is the cuts that are threatened by those opposite because they do not support the work we are doing in order to adequately, fully, properly fund our emergency services and help keep Victorians safe.
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:42): Councils are being asked to contribute up to an additional 300 per cent to cover the cost of paid lifeguards at Victorian beaches because Life Saving Victoria is short of cash, while the CFA, SES and FRV base budgets have all been cut. Why is the safety of Victorians being compromised because Labor cannot manage money?
Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:43): I again, for – I do not know – whatever time it is, reject the premise of the member’s question because he is absolutely wrong. The Premier has said this. The Treasurer has said this. I have said this. There are no cuts to our emergency services. We understand on this side of the chamber that everybody in this state has a role to play in keeping Victorians safe. That includes the funding that we put in as the Victorian government – the lion’s share of funding that Life Saving Victoria receive for lifeguards and services. Everybody has a role to play, and that includes local governments. We all have a role to play, whether it is education, whether it is funding, whether it is supporting, and I would encourage those opposite to actually stop misinforming people and support our emergency services.