Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Female volunteer firefighters

Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:48): (396) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, on 4 January the Erica CFA brigade was informed that the feminine hygiene waste disposal service supplied to the station since 2011 had been cancelled, with the volunteers being told a plastic bag and a labelled bin are the future alternative. Minister, noting the Erica brigade is now approaching 50 per cent female membership, is this how the Allan government shows respect to female volunteer firefighters?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:49): I thank Ms Bath for her question. I had this brought to my attention at the end of last year, and as you would appreciate, it is not a matter that the minister is responsible for in relation to the provision of waste disposal matters; it is a matter for individual brigades. I take your point from the question that you have raised that we should have facilities that accommodate and encourage women volunteers, and that is all part of a dedicated funding stream that we have to ensure that we have better facilities for women so that there are no barriers to their participation in the CFA in particular and of course our other emergency services. In relation to this specific matter, it is a matter for that particular brigade. It is a matter that I have been made aware of, and I have made my own inquiries.

Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:50): The minister might like to share what her inquiries have been fruitful about learning. Minister, is it your government’s policy to starve Victoria’s CFA of funding to the point where cost-cutting measures include cancelling a service that provides dignity and inclusion to female volunteers?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:51): Ms Bath, I will probably pick up some of the interjections. I receive a lot of correspondence particularly from the National Party, who never fail to forget the lack of investment and the neglect that they provided our volunteer organisations when they were in government. It is fine; I will focus –

Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, on relevance, bring her back to the question, please.

The PRESIDENT: I will bring the minister back to the question.

Jaclyn SYMES: Thank you, President. Ms Bath, I am happy to take some of this offline. There are some matters that I would be concerned about in relation to breaching people’s private information. As I said, it is not a matter for me to direct the contract provision of individual brigades. This is a matter for this individual brigade. There is a little bit more to the information that I have been provided, but it relates to people’s private information. Perhaps you can bring to me the information you have, and you and I can have a conversation about the information I have. My information is not as simple as being about provision for women.