A survey of 2,115 CFA volunteers has revealed record levels of dissatisfaction with the Victorian government’s funding of fire stations and its ageing tanker fleet.
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) chief executive Adam Barnett said the survey produced the worst result in its 13-year history when volunteers were asked whether the government provided “sufficient funding to support the adequate replacement of CFA trucks and stations.”
“This question recorded an unprecedented level of dissatisfaction that we have never experienced before,” Mr Barnett said.
According to VFBV analysis, the CFA requires $55 million a year to replace its fleet so that no tanker is older than 20 years and no pumper older than 15 years. That equates to about 100 trucks annually at an average cost of $550,000 each.
Despite increasing its emergency services levy from $1 billion in 2024–25 to $1.523 billion this financial year, the Allan government has allocated only an extra $10 million to CFA truck replacement.
“That $10 million is a pittance compared to what’s needed and the extra $500 million the government is raking in,” Mr Barnett said.
Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward confirmed the $10 million allocation, which comes on top of the usual internal annual allocation of $10–12 million. But Mr Barnett said volunteers remained sceptical about when and how the extra $10 million would be delivered.
“Volunteers no longer have faith or trust,” he said.
