Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Richard RIORDAN (Polwarth) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Yeodene CFA brigade has been on the ground fighting fires in Skipton, Carlisle River and Gellibrand. Yet in 2025 it received the minister’s extraordinary support of just $381 – for the entire year. Why is the government spending 500 times more on pot plants in the Suburban Rail Loop than on CFA brigades protecting Victorians from deadly fires?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the House will come to order! The member for Rowville will come to order!

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:44): At the risk of sounding repetitive, I could refer the member to just see above when he reads Hansard next, because this government continues to invest year on year –increased investment – in our CFA. To belittle the CFA the way that those opposite continue to do by talking about pot plants is quite insulting. Yeodene CFA, along with every CFA who has responded to the fires that we have seen this year, deserve to be congratulated, as do SES, as do FRV, as do FFMV. This government has doubled the funding in emergency services since we came to government.

This includes the nearly $2 billion invested in the current budget in emergency services. No other government has invested like this government does in emergency services. While the facts are there, the misinformation by those opposite continues to be touted, because what they want to do –

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

The SPEAKER: I ask the minister to come back to the question.

Vicki WARD: The question, despite the childish way in which it was worded, was about funding for the CFA, and essentially that is at the core here. We continue to try to help those opposite understand the extent of the funding that this government continues to invest in the CFA.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Broadmeadows can leave the chamber for an hour.

Member for Broadmeadows withdrew from chamber.

Vicki WARD: In order to deflect attention away from their own division, from their own challenges, they instead would rather undermine the CFA.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order – relevance, Speaker.

The SPEAKER: The minister has concluded her answer.

 Richard RIORDAN (Polwarth) (14:46): An extraordinary $5.6 million in additional emergency services tax will be collected from the Colac Otway shire. Yet the Kennedys Creek, Irrewillipe and Yeodene CFA brigades are still driving and will continue to drive around in 30-year-old tankers. Why are Victorians being taxed an extraordinary amount extra while our CFA brigades get less?

Mary-Anne Thomas: On a point of order, Speaker, I ask that you rule this supplementary question out of order on the basis that is an entirely different question to the first question. This question talks about tax policy and one might argue should be better directed to another minister.

The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. It refers to the CFA. The emergency services minister to answer the question.

 Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:47): To reflect on what the Leader of the House said, yes, questions about the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund are something for the Treasurer. However, what I will do is highlight that those opposite have no capacity or ability and have not verbalised any single way in which they would replace the funding that they will withdraw from emergency services.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, I do not know what that was, but it certainly was not an answer to that question.

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, that is not an appropriate way to raise a point of order. The minister to come back to the question.

Vicki WARD: We just see that behaviour continue anyway. What we have seen is a government here that continues to recognise the challenges that our weather patterns are creating. We have seen it in the last few weeks with the fires that we have seen and the flash flooding. While those opposite continue to engage in culture wars, arguing about this and trying to create distractions, it is this government that is going to ensure –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Warrandyte can leave the chamber for an hour.

Member for Warrandyte withdrew from chamber.

Vicki WARD: that there is always funding for our emergency services. We are not slashing it like those opposite will do.