Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (14:52): (1488) Yarra Ranges police are amazing and for years have operated a fire patrol unit from the Mount Evelyn police station in the fire danger period, doing important work and supporting our CFA firefighters. Whether that is monitoring known arson offenders ahead of an extreme fire danger day or responding to illegal burn-offs on total fire ban days, these police officers have been integral to managing the fire risk across our region. Yet under the Labor government’s cuts to the Victoria Police budget, this fire patrol unit has been disbanded, cut without notice, despite feedback from the Country Fire Authority about the value of the resource, and in the middle of a fire season when grass and debris is nearly 100 per cent cured – it is cooked. So my question to the Minister for Police is: why has the Yarra Ranges fire patrol unit been cut at all and especially during this dangerous fire season? It is crazy. There is now no guarantee of police support for illegal fire activity or support in a bushfire under this Labor government.