Thursday, 20 March 2025

Country Fire Authority

Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (09:41): Today I want to say thank you to the CFA. As we know, the Victorian CFA has had its budget slashed by millions in recent years. Their stations, their trucks and their equipment need urgent attention; much of it is no longer fit for purpose. CFA training is in utter disarray, with many courses still unavailable, and yet still these brave men and women answer the call to run towards danger when it comes. Sadly, 13 CFA brigades identified by the Fire District Review Panel as having a higher risk profile for fires and assessed for takeover by Fire Rescue Victoria have been put through the wringer over the past two years during a multimillion-dollar, four-year FRV fire district review.

In addition to risking their lives with shonky equipment and sacrificing their health to fight toxic fires, these CFA brigades were required to complete submissions and provide evidence to justify their own existence to the state government as to why they should continue to provide this amazing service. The review is now done, but it has not been released. Yesterday the Minister for Emergency Services met with key stakeholders from the CFA just to tell them that there would be absolutely no changes whatsoever at all. It was totally insulting and demoralising, and, sadly, many CFA volunteers resigned. What an absolute waste. What a disgraceful way to treat our CFA.