State Emergency Service funding
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:19): (368) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, the SES yearly operational grants to fund day-to-day operations of individual units have not been paid this financial year. They are usually paid in October; however, SES units have had no communication to explain why payments have not been made. This is leaving hardworking volunteers to pay out of their own pockets for basic costs such as fuel and repairs that they need to undertake so that they can run their own units. Minister, can you assure all SES units they will be paid in full by the end of November in preparation for the busy summer period?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:19): This is a great opportunity to talk about the SES. It is certainly our government’s commitment to ensure that VICSES volunteers are equipped with the resources they need to keep the community safe. I think we all would agree that after recent times anyone that did not know about the SES now does. They have been front and centre of responding to many emergencies in recent times, and I thank those volunteers. Certainly anyone that is considering becoming a volunteer, I would urge you to do so.
Last week I announced more than $2.4 million in additional funding for the VICSES through the VESEP grants to ensure that units are receiving the equipment that they need. That has been well received across the state, and many people will be connected to their local SES branches and will have heard the good news that was spread last week. In relation to the annual subsidy, VICSES have advised me that they anticipate they will all be received by 1 December, which is one day after your question.