Decorated firefighting heroes face a crushing blow, with the Allan Government denying tax rebates on a technicality — despite decades of unpaid service during Victoria’s worst blazes

Decorated firefighting heroes face a crushing blow, with the Allan Government denying tax rebates on a technicality — despite decades of unpaid service during Victoria’s worst blazes

members of the UFU, CFA Volunteers Group and the Across Victoria Alliance spent their Valentine’s Day out in the community — talking to Victorians about what’s really happening to their fire services.

This time, we were campaigning on the border of Jacinta Allan’s own electorate of Bendigo East.

The response? Overwhelmingly supportive.

We had countless conversations about:

💰 An Emergency Services Tax that’s doubling

🚒 Fire trucks that are past their service life

🧑🏻‍🚒 Fire services that are under-equipped and under-resourced

Victorians are paying more — but not seeing the investment where it matters most: frontline emergency response.

Victoria’s renewable energy giants will contribute just $600,000 to fund Victoria’s emergency services this financial year, while the state’s drought-affected farmers will cough up about $71m.

Victorian communities ravaged by the January bushfires say they’ve been abandoned by the Allan Government. Locals warn that if they had waited for government support, they would have been left to starve.
“Where is the Allan Government? Where is the help?” residents ask, frustrated and angry as they struggle to access basic necessities. Calls for immediate, effective disaster relief are growing louder, as those on the frontline feel forgotten and ignored

The Committee will inquire into the 2026 summer fires across Victoria including preparation and planning by Government, emergency services agencies, causes and circumstances of the bushfires, funding equipment and appliances for the CFA, the emergency responses, resilience of critical services and infrastructure, the impact on community business and agriculture, the impact on the environment, the impacts of climate change, the impact of misinformation, interjurisdictional support and lessons from previous inquiries, report and Royal Commissions

A great big new ‘Emergency Services’ tax, yet our Firefighters are left with Trucks that are old, unsafe and not fit for purpose.

The Victorian government has reversed its opposition to a parliamentary inquiry into summer bushfires after 12,847 Victorians signed a petition demanding investigation into fire service funding.

Private Contractors hired to fight Victoria’s bushfires still have not been paid. Where is the money raised from the wrongful tax going? They claim they are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars and might have to stop work because they’re going broke. Scrap the Tax

Debate on an Inquiry into recent Bushfires and funding of EmergencyServices scheduled to start approximately 4pm in the Legislative Council.

Just 8000 of Victoria’s 56,000 CFA and SES volunteers have lodged applications for rebates on the emergency services tax they must pay this financial year.
As of this month the government had paid out just $3.4m to 7400 volunteers, equivalent to an average of $459 each.
The slow uptake appears to be due to a mix of volunteers taking a principled stance against receiving any form of payment, while others appear confused over the rebate rules.

CFA Volunteers Sound Alarm Over Aging Equipment. Where is the money really going? We need an Independent Parliamentary Inquiry now.

You go to these things…knowing that you may not come home.’ This is the state of our fire service that was brought about by the senseless actions of Premier Allan, Treasurer Symes and Minister Ward. They must answer for their terrible wrong doing and act to fix the problems now. Stop the Tax

The Allan government has come underfire over its fire services levy as farmers who are volunteer firefighters help to contain “massive” bushfires across the state.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking says farmers were prepared this summer for bushfires and helped in preventing the fires from becoming bigger.

“They landed on the properties of professional farmers … they were ready to respond,” he told Ross and Russel.

Where is our Teleboom ? Nick McGowan MP asks the question — because once again, Ringwood’s Teleboom isn’t there when it maybe needed.

More than 10,000 Victorians have already signed the petition for an Independent Parliamentary Inquiry. This is real momentum — and it’s building fast.

Firefighters raised legitimate concerns about safety and funding — backed by the government’s own numbers — and were met with dismissal and ridicule. As highlighted in a recent Herald Sun opinion piece, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes even laughed at these very questions. This isn’t leadership — it’s arrogance, and it puts community safety at risk
Please Sign the petition https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/select-committee-on-fire-services-funding-and-resources

In Victoria communities are counting the cost of recent catastrophic bushfires.
Some firefighters claim funding cuts to the Country Fire Authority have left them dangerously stretched.

Please Sign the petition https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/select-committee-on-fire-services-funding-and-resources

Support Firefighters demand for an Independent Parliamentary Inquiry, not a Government appointed one they can hide behind.

 Sign the petition

 Protect firefighters

 Protect Victorians

Please Sign the petition https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/select-committee-on-fire-services-funding-and-resources

The Premier has repeatedly hosed down claims the CFA’s funding has been cut in recent years.
She’s called assertions “false and misleading” – but analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office tells a different story. #9News

Please Sign the petition https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/select-committee-on-fire-services-funding-and-resources