Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Country Fire Authority

Report 2023–24

Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (17:24): I rise to deliver a statement on the Country Fire Authority’s 2023–24 annual report. You may have noticed that I have been talking about the CFA a lot this week, as I do most weeks. That is because I have so much respect for the self-sacrifice demonstrated by our frontline responders in the CFA day in and day out. We have all felt the sweltering temperatures over last weekend and early this week, and that of course has made conditions much more dangerous for our CFA members, who are forgoing precious time with their families to protect their communities. This is why the Allan Labor government is backing our CFA brigades across the state with record funding.

This report shows how this government has delivered 10 new CFA stations and 91 new firefighting vehicles. I was recently fortunate enough to see some of those new vehicles in action when I represented the Minister for Emergency Services and joined Mr Tarlamis at the graduation of a cohort of female driving educators at the CFA State Logistics Centre in Scoresby. Perhaps for the next one the other member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Region may join me, because at that one we had the good privilege of being able to speak with CFA volunteers from Diamond Creek, Panton Hill and Plenty fire brigades and hear about their commitment to their roles. The CFA and indeed our state could not function without the enormous dedication of these volunteers, and it was the same dedication I have seen across all emergency services in my capacity as Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services. I have regularly met with members at all levels of the CFA, Life Saving Victoria (LSV) and the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), and I have got to tell you every meeting fills me with growing pride both as a Victorian and as a member of the Allan Labor government as we stand in support of our frontline emergency services workers.

One recent example that comes to mind is meeting with the volunteers from Greater Dandenong VICSES – this happens to be a bit of a theme this evening – to announce the recipients of the Valuing Volunteers Program. It was an absolute pleasure meeting Erin, the deputy controller of the unit, who treated me to a perfectly brewed cuppa, a bickie and some good stories about the beautiful volunteers there. Valuing Volunteers is just one of the many avenues by which our government tops up funding for emergency services. Last year there was an extra $1.4 million in funding to units and brigades from VICSES, the CFA, Life Saving Victoria, the Emergency Services Foundation, the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, and independent volunteer marine search and rescue units.

I have also been so fortunate to spend time with volunteers from Life Saving Victoria. In December I was particularly happy to spend some time in the Southern Metropolitan Region with the member for Albert Park, Nina Taylor, to see how the club is taking advantage of the Victorian government’s volunteer emergency services equipment program (VESEP). It is so exciting to see the government’s $30,000 contribution, which has allowed the club to purchase a new side-by-side vehicle and outboard motors. It is meaningful investments like these that allow our frontline volunteers to do what they do best and keep Victorians safe.

I have already spoken this week about VESEP grants, but I raise them here again because they contribute to the growth of the CFA, and that is so much reflected in this annual report that I am speaking on tonight. In addition to the VESEP grants our government has invested $11 million to upskill CFA firefighters and deliver volunteer driver training and licensing as part of our $258 million CFA capability package, and this report details how 25 new pumpers are due to be delivered to CFA brigades beginning this year. With government support like this it is no wonder that according to this report the CFA attracted more than 2400 volunteers last year, 55 per cent of whom were aged between 18 and 44.

I know I have said it a number of times already this week, but it bears repeating just once more: I could not be more proud of the way Victorians from all walks of life come together for their communities and contribute to emergency services organisations like the CFA. I look forward to seeing the CFA grow from strength to strength when I read its next annual report and I look forward to spending more time with volunteers across the Victorian emergency services throughout 2025.