Bushfire preparedness
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:18): (1320) My question is to the Minister for Environment. Forest fire management staff are essential to bushfire mitigation, delivering and supervising the ground-based fuel reduction work that enables contractors to do their vital work and operate and mitigate bushfire risk for communities and the environment. Minister, what assurance can you give that no regionally based forest fire management jobs will be cut this year?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:18): I thank Ms Bath for her question and her interest in Forest Fire Management Victoria. They are an amazing team, and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge everyone in Forest Fire Management Victoria for the work they have done, especially considering the bushfire season we have had. I want to extend those thanks to people and members of our emergency services of all disciplines that have been doing that work.
In terms of the budgetary outcomes for Forest Fire Management Victoria, I think we have been very clear. I think the Treasurer has been very clear. Our government is investing more into frontline services, not cutting from frontline services, and that is where our investments have been directed to. We do not just talk about this work, we invest in it. Since 2021 the Allan Labor government has made unprecedented advancements for bushfire preparedness, fuel management and frontline capability, including $517 million since 2021 and a further $80 million in last year’s 2025–26 budget. This year’s budget, which we will obviously have an opportunity to interrogate at PAEC, has further investments into Forest Fire Management Victoria. So, yes, I can guarantee we are injecting more resources, not less.
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:20): Thank you, Minister. I note in that response you actually did not answer the question. You did not give an assurance that no regionally based forest jobs would be cut. Minister, given you failed to give that assurance and given you failed to give that guarantee, how will vital winter fuel reduction and forest management work be delivered if the frontline workforce is undermined?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:20): I thank Ms Bath for that really hypothetical question, which invites me to respond. What I will say is that bushfire preparedness is not something that happens only in summer, it happens year-round, and you should understand that as a regional member of Parliament. It involves planned burning, mechanical treatment, fuel break maintenance, emergency response planning, community information and frontline readiness. With the budget that has been delivered you will see we are making further investments. There was an announcement – if you look at the press release by me and Minister Ward – in relation to the additional resources and assets we are investing to do this work. We are also investing in the frontline staff that are crucial. I want to thank them for their work. We trust their operational experience to tackle the tough bushfires that we do face in light of the changing climate – climate change that those opposite do not accept.