Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Country Fire Authority funding

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:05): (533) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, the budget revealed the Allan Labor government plans to hike the fire services property levy to the tune of $166.3 million in the next financial year. How much of this massively increased charge to Victorian home owners will pay for the undelivered CFA fire trucks promised in 2022?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:06): I thank Ms Crozier for her question, but the fire trucks for the CFA that you have mentioned in your question were funded in a previous budget and are in the process of being rolled out. I have been honoured to be personally present at some of those truck handovers, and I have got a few more to go.

Members interjecting.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:06): Quite a few to go, as my colleagues remind me behind me. Minister, will all of the 48 new trucks promised in 2022 be paid for and delivered by the start of the fire season at the end of this year?

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:06): Thank you, Ms Crozier. I think I have answered this question in here before, but I certainly answered it on Friday at PAEC. The 48 vehicles that you refer to, which have been funded and are progressively rolling out, will all be delivered to the CFA by July this year. Some of them are on the ground at brigades. When they become available to the CFA – once they have left the manufacturer, they go through testing, they go through training – they get rolled out as appropriate. I am very pleased to say there are additional fire trucks funded in this year’s budget, which will get underway in due course as well, so lots and lots of brigades will be in receipt of Labor-funded fire trucks.