Tuesday, 4 February 2025

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (14:55): It has also been a tough start to the year with bushfires, and we are still in the heat of summer. I would like to acknowledge the incredible work of our CFA volunteers. Many brigades across Northern Victoria have responded to support the firefighting efforts in western Victoria – a bushfire that destroyed nearly 70,000 hectares within 24 hours. Last week I visited Bendigo CFA in their temporary shared facility with my federal Nationals colleagues Senator Perin Davey and Darren Chester. It is now over 170 years old. Bendigo CFA is the third-oldest brigade in Victoria. A huge thankyou to captain Ian Ellis, who has served for nearly 45 years. Last year their brigade responded to over 120 incidents – that is an incredible effort. Their heavy tanker and brigade members were deployed to assist with the Grampians and Little Desert bushfires, and I know many other brigades did the same. To all our CFA volunteers, we say thank you.