Thursday, 31 August 2023

Country Fire Authority

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:40): (456) My adjournment is to the Minister for Emergency Services. The action I seek is for the minister to write to me and clearly outline the status of the government’s much-heralded program to upgrade the tanker fleet for the CFA. On 15 January 2022, Minister, you announced that the government was spending $23 million on 48 new heavy tankers and two new light tankers for the CFA, which were to be operational by September 2023, which is in fact tomorrow. The important questions that have been raised with me that I request the minister to answer in her response are as follows: (1) how many of these 50 new vehicles have actually been delivered; (2) when will the rest of these tankers be delivered; (3) what is the actual cost of these new tankers; and (4) when will the actual cost of these new tankers be made publicly available?

All Victorians are concerned to ensure that the CFA is properly equipped to respond as required to what is being touted as a concerning summer and therefore a pending fire season. The CFA volunteers do an outstanding job every year protecting life and property and deserve to be properly equipped and supported in their work. Many of the rural CFA brigades are forced to conduct local fundraising efforts to provide funds to enable them to purchase vital equipment that assists them to continue their fantastic voluntary work in our rural communities. It is incumbent on the government to strongly support these volunteers in any way they can, including providing modern trucks and equipment. I must say that I have been to CFA stations and I have seen that some of them have got 30-year-old trucks where you still have to sit on the outside of the truck, which is absolutely archaic and appalling, not to mention that they have their diesel trucks in locations where they can still breathe in all of those fumes, which is an occupational health and safety hazard. It is absolutely appalling that this government is not doing more to replace or to extend a lot of these CFA buildings, or to purchase new properties for them where they can have their new trucks and service regional Victoria. So I look forward to hearing from the minister regarding this important issue.