FIRE SERVICE FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT A DROP IN OCEAN COMPARED TO $5.4 BILLION TAX
- Funding for fire services is long overdue after years of underinvestment
- Government is collecting more than $5.4 billion through increases to the fire services levy
- Upgrading the ageing professional firefighting fleet would cost a few hundred million dollars- a small portion of the additional levy revenue being collected
Thursday 23 April 2026 – A coalition of career and volunteer firefighters are calling out the Victorian Government’s announcement of new CFA funding that falls well short of what is required to address longstanding risks across the fire services- and includes no funding for Fire Rescue Victoria’s failing fleet.
The Allan Labor Government has announced a $365 million firefighting package, including $148.8 million for CFA resources such as new tankers and pumpers, station upgrades, training, wellbeing support and protective equipment, alongside additional funding for forest firefighter assets.
Firefighters say this announcement confirms what they have been warning for years: funding can be found when needed and is politically motivated, coming in an election year. This raises serious questions about why critical gaps in the professional firefighting fleet remain unresolved. Both career and volunteer firefighters work side by side on the fireground, and both services require proper and sustained investment to function safely and effectively.
At the same time, the Government is collecting significantly increased revenue through changes to the fire services levy, with more than $5.4 billion expected to be raised from Victorian households, businesses and farmers. Firefighters warn that addressing funding must be done quickly, as risks increase as fleet reliability continues to decline.
Despite this, firefighters say the funding announced today represents only a fraction of that increase and does not reflect the scale of investment required to ensure all firefighters have access to safe, modern and reliable equipment.
A system under strain
The scale of the issue within the professional firefighting fleet is well established.
65 per cent of Fire Rescue Victoria’s fleet, at least138 out of approximately 213 trucks, is past its service life,
with some vehicles as old as 35 years.
These are frontline appliances relied upon daily in communities across Victoria, from regional centres to the Melbourne CBD.
Firefighters have repeatedly warned that ageing trucks are becoming increasingly unreliable and, in some cases, unsafe, placing both crews and the public at unnecessary risk.
The Government is clearly attempting to shore up votes in country Victoria whilst ignoring critical need for fire protection in suburban marginal seats.
Funding must reflect the full system
Today’s announcement should be seen in the context of a significantly increased tax burden through the fire services levy, which has not yet translated into the level of reinvestment required across all parts of the system.
Selective investment risks leaving critical gaps in capability, particularly within the professional firefighting fleet, which plays a central role in responding to structure fires, high-risk incidents and complex emergencies.
Replacing the ageing professional fleet is expected to cost in the order of a few hundred million dollars, a relatively modest investment when compared to the more than $2 billion in additional levy revenue now being collected.
Andrew Weidemann AM from the Across Victoria Alliance said regional communities were already feeling the impact of funding decisions that did not match the level of revenue being collected.
“Victorians are paying significantly more through the levy, so they have every right to expect that money is reinvested properly,” said Mr Weidemann.
“This announcement is welcome, but it is only a fraction of the extra funds being collected.”
“If the Government can find money for this, it can find the relatively smaller amount needed to ensure all firefighters have safe and reliable equipment.”
United Firefighters Union Secretary Peter Marshall said the announcement exposed the Government’s
priorities.
“This is about political expediency in an election cycle, not fixing a system that firefighters have been warning is under strain for years,” said Mr Marshall.
“65 per cent of the professional firefighting fleet is already past its service life. Firefighters are turning out every day in trucks that should have been replaced years ago, and this announcement will not scratch the surface of what is actually required.”
John Houston President of CFA Volunteers Group Inc said volunteers understood better than anyone that funding decisions had real consequences on the ground.
“Volunteers rely on a properly resourced professional fleet to respond to structure fires and complex incidents. That capability cannot be allowed to fall behind,” said Mr Houston.
“Getting this right means backing every firefighter with the equipment they need, not just parts of the system when it is convenient.”
Media enquiries – Gabriella 0466 435 468