ANDREWS CRIPPLING CFA WHILE VICTORIA COMMEMORATES THEM
Member for Western Victoria Region, Bev McArthur has censured the Andrews Government for their mismanagement of Victoria’s volunteer firefighting services.
In the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2020 released today, it was revealed that the number of CFA volunteers has fallen again to just 34,483. This figure is 2340 less than the 2015 report, released 3 months after the Andrews Government assumed office.
While the volunteer firefighting force continues to decline, Victoria’s career firefighting force is nearly 20% larger since the end of 2014.
Bev McArthur said “Daniel Andrews’ tearing apart of the CFA in favour of more power for his Union mates, has decimated an organisation that is crucial to the safety of rural Victorians.”
“Every year the volunteer firefighting force continues to drop under this government, compounding greater fire risk created by Labor’s inaction on fuel reduction, mismanaging roadside vegetation and unsafe power infrastructure.”
“Fewer CFA volunteers means less safety and bigger bills for Victorians. The annual wage bill for career firefighters is now $884.8 million, which is $280 million higher than when they assumed office.”
“Many Victorians spent Australia Day considering the significant sacrifice of our volunteer firefighters this bushfire season. Hopefully the Premier spent his day working out how to undo the damage,” she concluded.
29 January 2020