Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. The minister was asked in a question on notice to provide the age breakdown of the CFA fire truck fleet. That was on 17 June last year. The answer was due 202 days ago but has not yet been provided. What has the minister got to hide about the age of the CFA fleet?

Mary-Anne Thomas: On a point of order, Speaker, standing order 57(1)(a). Once again, I ask that you consider ruling this question out of order on the basis that it offers an opinion on the matter rather than giving facts. I ask that you rule it out of order.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order.

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:36): I thank the Leader of the Nationals for the opportunity to talk about the extraordinary investment this government is putting into our CFA – a CFA that we will never undermine, a CFA that we will always support and continue to support, a CFA leadership that we will always support. In the earlier answer I gave I did thank CFA volunteers, so I will not upset the opposition by thanking CFA volunteers again.

Jacinta Allan interjected.

Vicki WARD: I agree with the Premier: they should be thanked every day and twice on Sundays. We have invested $1.5 billion in the CFA in the past four years, and that has meant more trucks. It has also meant more stations and has meant more support. In this latest budget we invested $40 million for a rolling replacement fleet program. There is also of course the $62 million, which is a doubling of the volunteer emergency services equipment program grants – which they will slash – which also helps support the purchase of appliances for the CFA. In fact a record amount, $22 million, in VESEP grants was awarded to the CFA last year. We have built on the $21 million we have invested in the last budget for seven new CFA stations and two satellite stations. Do you know what they have housed? Stations across the state have been housing 89 new trucks.

Danny O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, on the question of relevance, the question was clearly about the age of the CFA fleet, which the minister has not yet gone near.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question.

Vicki WARD: As I said, 89 new CFA trucks in 2025, and 167 new vehicles are on order or in production. Again we see this persistent behaviour by those opposite to undermine an agency, the integrity of an agency –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: Minister, come back to the question.

Vicki WARD: In the context of the question, it is really important to understand contrast. The contrast is that on this side of the chamber we are always there supporting our CFA. We are investing in new appliances, we are investing in new stations and we are investing in new equipment. We are there supporting them. We have been down in communities. We have been speaking with CFAs. We have not been spreading misinformation. We have not been creating division. We have not been undermining the leadership of the CFA, which is the contrasting behaviour that we see with those opposite. We have increased investment in the CFA year on year, as evidenced by the CFA themselves. For those opposite to continue to ignore or disrespect the statement that was made by the CFA regarding the investment in the CFA is disgraceful.

 Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:39): Data provided in 2023 showed 230 trucks were over 30 years old. How many are there today?

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:40): I really do again thank the 1200 brigades that we have across this state of the CFA, and I really want to thank them for the work that they do. I know that they appreciate the new trucks, the new appliances, the new equipment and the increased investment –

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, can I refer you to Speaker Madigan’s ruling of 26 August 2003:

When responding to a question a minister must address the question rather than responding generally.

I understand that you cannot direct relevance. However, the minister is not dealing with the substance of the actual question.

The SPEAKER: The minister has been on her feet for 20 seconds. I ask the minister to come back to the question.

Vicki WARD: Well, the answer to the question is really, really simple, which is that we continue to invest in new appliances which continue to be turned over at CFA.