Local CFA volunteers were paid a visit by state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland and Opposition leader Jess Wilson at Hilldene Fire Brigade.
Photo by
Billie Davern
The Victorian Opposition leader met with a band of local CFA volunteers at Hilldene Fire Brigade on a tour of what was called a “museum”.
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Joined by state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, Member for Kew Jess Wilson, who was appointed as leader of the Opposition and of the Victorian Liberal Party last month, heard the concerns of firies hailing from rural brigades such as Glenaroua, Strathbogie and hosting brigade Hilldene.
Of the issues raised, it was the ageing equipment these brigades used and the lack of resources for women who were volunteers that concerned Ms Wilson most.
“The fact that female volunteers do not have change rooms, do not have access to a toilet. Time and time again, requests have gone in to ensure that the government can fund these vital facilities, and they have been ignored by this government,” she said.
“What we’ve heard quite consistently in the group today is the lack of funding for vital resources, for sheds that can house the trucks.
“We’ve heard they’ve got trucks that are 35 to 37 years old and are not safe. In dangerous conditions, we have volunteers sitting exposed in the back of trucks because this government hasn’t invested.”
After hearing the concerns of local volunteers, Ms Wilson said, if her government was elected next year, it would ‘Scrap The Tax’ to support the state’s rural brigades.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Ms Cleeland said she was disappointed that these rural brigades were under-resourced as we entered into peak fire season.
“We are entering into a high fire danger period and today was really important to listen to the volunteers and understand if they feel prepared to fight the campaign fight in Victoria,” she said.
“What we have heard today is they are fiercely under-resourced, they feel exposed as volunteers, and the government is forcing them to go into dangerous, unsafe environments as volunteers.
“We could be standing in front of a museum right now. The government has put forward more than a $3 billion tax, and we are not getting a fair slice of that pie in this region.”
Ms Cleeland and Ms Wilson receive a tour of one of Whiteheads Creek/Tarcombe brigade’s oldest tankers.
Photo by
Billie Davern
When asked how the government was supporting rural brigades like those present on the day, a spokesperson said Victoria’s budget invested significantly in the state’s emergency services.
“This year’s budget invests nearly $2 billion in our emergency services, to build more stations, get new trucks on the road, and make sure our volunteers have the equipment they need,” they said.
“Jess Wilson's Liberals will cut funding to local brigades, cut your volunteer rebate, and cut funding for trucks. When disaster strikes, the Liberals and Nationals will leave Victorians on their own.”
Ms Wilson said, if elected, her government would ‘Scrap The Tax’ to support the state’s rural brigades and communities.
“We just heard from CFA volunteers how utterly under-resourced they are by the Allan Labor Government. At the same time, this government is putting a $3 billion emergency services tax on volunteers and on farmers, who work every single day to protect their communities,” she said.
“What we’ve been very clear about from the outset is that we will not proceed with the emergency services tax. We will scrap this tax.”
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