Wednesday, 29 November 2023

Ministers statements: emergency services

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:08): I want to take the opportunity to update the house on how Christmas has come early for CFA brigades, VICSES, marine search and rescue units and Life Saving Victoria –

Members interjecting.

Jaclyn SYMES: You guys need a holiday. Across the state, the volunteers from these hardworking agencies are sharing in almost $15 million of funding across 233 projects. They have got new trucks, tankers, watercraft, trailers and a snowmobile that will be delivered, as well as facility upgrades and defibrillators.

Where are all of these gifts coming from, some may ask. Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of visiting Harcourt’s CFA brigade to announce this year’s volunteer emergency services equipment program grants, an annual grants program which helps volunteer emergency service agencies purchase equipment and improve their emergency response capability. The Harcourt brigade were recipients of a medium tanker funded through a previous VESEP grant, and I was grateful to have the chance to channel my inner Santa and hand it over with the member for Bendigo West in the other place.

CFA are sharing in almost $11 million of this funding, and I would like to congratulate the Chiltern brigade in my electorate, as well as brigades in Darlington, Emerald, Maude and Wooriwyrite, on receiving funding for a new medium tanker. Camperdown, Sarsfield and Mallacoota brigades will each receive $100,000 towards the upgrade of their headquarters.

A member: Tracey will be rapt.

Jaclyn SYMES: Tracey will be rapt. VICSES units in Corio, Kaniva, Marong and Wangaratta, just to name a few, are receiving replacement utility vehicles. Twenty-nine Life Saving Victoria clubs are sharing in over $800,000 in grants for upgraded equipment, and marine search and rescue flotillas will share in over $300,000 of funding. I am very proud that since the Allan Labor government has engaged in these programs we have provided $123 million of grants to volunteers around the state.