Wednesday, 29 October 2025

 John LISTER (Werribee) (09:45): The Wyndham and Wyndham West SES are amazing volunteers. These men and women serve our community with dedication and courage. Recently Wyndham experienced a rare tornado-like event, something almost unheard of in our area until recent years. Thank you to our SES and CFA volunteers for responding in difficult conditions.

Expanding the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund to include the SES recognises that weather events like Sunday’s are going to become even more common. However, I was disturbed to see in reports on Monday the fiscal impact of the reckless policy of the Liberals and Nationals to cut the ESVF, leaving these same SES volunteers stranded for funding, jeopardising fleet replacement and equipment programs if they get in – programs like the new rescue fleet rollout, which Wyndham is looking forward to receiving. These same volunteers out on Sunday and Monday helping our towns to recover deserve certainty and resourcing, not the spectre of Liberal cuts. On Monday I went out and knocked on the doors of residents who had been affected, offering my office’s support. It was heartening to see neighbours out helping each other to recover from the storm.