Country Fire Authority resources
Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:24): (370) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Colbinabbin CFA brigade captain Chris Ryan has said due to the age of and safety concerns with the brigade’s tanker, the brigade has had to make the decision to remove itself from future state strike team activities. Brigades from Gippsland, Clydebank, Valencia Creek and Tyers East also cannot attend strike team activity because of the age of their trucks. Why won’t the government provide brigades like Colbinabbin with the equipment they need to protect the community from fire and to keep the volunteers safe?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:25): I thank Mrs Broad for her question and obviously her support for the CFA, an amazing organisation underpinned by such dedicated, hardworking volunteers. We do indeed want to support every volunteer in the CFA, and it was just last week that I was in Harcourt celebrating the new vehicle that Harcourt had received and also announcing further vehicles that have been distributed throughout the state. The CFA is currently rolling out 48 heavy tankers and two light tankers funded as part of the CFA’s capability package. The VESEP grants are also contributing to vehicles. There were three for brigades that were part of last week’s announcement. Buying new trucks is not all we are doing. We are also investing $11 million to upskill CFA firefighters to deliver volunteer driver training and licensing, which includes delivery of dedicated training trucks. In relation to the deployment of CFA personnel, that is certainly a matter for CFA. In relation to the brigade that you have mentioned, I will seek advice in relation to the information that they are receiving from CFA and the broader support for that region.
Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:26): Thank you, Minister. There are currently 193 CFA fire trucks that are more than 30 years old and 429 that are over 25 years old. Why is the government putting volunteers’ lives at risk by not replacing these fire trucks?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:26): Mrs Broad, as I have indicated, there are trucks rolling out to brigades on a regular basis. I am actually going out and visiting brigades all the time in relation to that. In relation to the age of trucks – and I get this question quite a lot – there are dedicated maintenance staff and mechanics who are always on hand around the state to ensure that vehicles are operational and that they are safe. Many vehicles –
Members interjecting.
Jaclyn SYMES: Would you like the information? Mrs Broad is listening. Many of the older trucks have received upgrades in relation to safety and the like, so it is not the same vehicle that was handed out 25 years ago. It is important that we continue to invest in new trucks, invest in the maintenance of existing trucks and make sure that those resources are placed where they are most needed, and that is the advice that I receive from CFA.
The PRESIDENT: Before I call the next question, a previous member of this chamber is in the gallery: Catherine Cumming.