Wednesday, 19 June 2024

Statements on tabled papers and petitions

Victoria State Emergency Service

Report 2022–23

Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (17:15): I rise today to speak to the Victoria State Emergency Service annual report2022–23,tabled in this place on 1 November 2023. I would like to start, as I often do, by thanking the members of the SES who put together this report, which provides an update on the continued hard work and resilience of volunteers and staff of the SES who gave up their time to provide disaster relief to our state in a time of crisis. But this time I would like to extend my thanks even further to not only the makers of this annual report but the 4869 volunteers and 222 staff members, the 150 units, the 15 permanently staffed offices and the 104 road rescue providers of the SES. I would like to thank their families, who go without their loved ones so that they can help those affected by disasters. These volunteers gave a whopping 287,373 hours of their time responding to 32,985 incidents, including the floods. That is an incredible amount of hours committed by volunteers – volunteers who are not being paid but are doing this for the betterment of their community. I for one extend my thanks to those volunteers who show up and make a difference time in and time out.

Devastating bushfires, floods and natural disasters have become more common, and our reliance on hardworking first responders, paid and volunteer alike, is so integral to the management of crises. We will only see this reliance continue to grow and be depended upon. During the summer just gone the Victoria SES responded to, as I understand it, over 10,000 requests for assistance. As we continue to confront the increasing intensity and rapidly changing weather conditions brought about by climate change, we remain committed not only to helping communities rebuild but to better preparing and responding to future natural disasters.

The Allan Labor government continues to support communities with $302 million committed in the budget to help rebuild and of course for our recovery efforts, including repairs to critical infrastructure such as schools and roads. It also includes temporary accommodation, relief payments and health support for residents who need it. This government is also investing in our future emergency management response with more than $50 million, including $25 million to support the State Control Centre; $9.5 million to ensure Victorians and emergency services organisations have the most up-to-date emergency information, advice and warnings; and $9.1 million for Life Saving Victoria to continue its critical water safety program, including rescue helicopter, watercraft and some drone services. There you go. There is also $6.9 million to our State Emergency Service, backing the work of our incredible volunteers.

I would like to close off by thanking the broad depth of our volunteers across the emergency services sector, including SES, lifesavers and our country fire brigades. They do really form a vital backbone through their hard work in giving up their time, time and time again, to help their fellow Victorians. We could not bounce back from disasters and be the state that we are without them, so I extend to them my thanks.