Western Victoria Region
Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:04): (1723) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services in support of the Pomonal community in my electorate. In February 2024 a bushfire destroyed 45 homes, nearly a third of the town, and then last summer they faced the widespread Grampians fire. This is a community that fights its own fires and looks after its own safety; all they are asking for is the right equipment. Following their debrief the brigade identified the urgent need for an ultralight tanker, essential for first-attack and remote-access firefighting. They applied for a volunteer emergency services equipment program grant last year, where local brigades in the state co-fund equipment, but were knocked back. They are applying again this year. Minister, given your government’s new emergency services and volunteers fund tax, which disproportionately drains communities like Pomonal, will you ensure they finally get the vehicle they are already paying for and need desperately to protect the town?