Tuesday, 18 November 2025

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:45): My question is the Minister for Emergency Services. I ask the government to listen to the concerns raised by CFA volunteers in my electorate and address these issues. Conditions are similar to Black Saturday, yet our CFA approaches this fire season with reduced funding, the oldest fleet and fewer active volunteers. The CFA maintains close to 2000 tankers and many are well past their use-by date, with inadequate protection for volunteers, with a cab that fits only two people and leaves the rest of the crew vulnerable. With the rapid rollout of solar farms and lithium-ion batteries, there remain no Australian standards to fight such fires. The training they receive is to use water and let it burn, releasing toxic chemicals and putting volunteers and communities at risk. Victoria also lags behind other states with presumptive rights legislation with limited protections, which need to be expanded. Last week this chamber saw a petition signed by over 43,000 people against the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund that notes how unfair this new tax is and requests the government to cease its introduction and consult on a fairer funding model. Minister, will the government address these issues and listen to the concerns raised by our valuable CFA volunteers?