The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says a Parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s 2025–26 bushfire season has confirmed years of Labor neglect have left CFA volunteers without the resources they need to protect regional communities.
The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee’s report found declining CFA volunteer numbers, ageing firefighting vehicles, workforce shortages, inadequate fuel management and significant delays in bushfire recovery.
Mr O’Brien, who is also the Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, said the findings should concern every community across Gippsland, where local CFA brigades rely on volunteers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect their neighbours.
“Gippslanders know the risks of bushfire all too well. We know how important our CFA volunteers are and we know they need the right equipment, resources and support to do their job safely,” Mr O’Brien said.
“This report confirms what many of our local brigades have been warning for years – the CFA has been stretched too thin.
“Volunteers are being asked to do more with less and Labor has failed to properly invest in the service regional Victoria depends on.”
The inquiry found:
- CFA operational volunteer numbers have fallen by 26 per cent over the past decade.
- 802 single-cab tankers remain in the CFA fleet, with full replacement not expected until 2036.
- Around 650 tankers continue to carry firefighters in exposed rear seating.
- Significant parts of the firefighting fleet are operating beyond their service life, with mechanical failures occurring during emergency responses.
- The CFA continues to face shortages of experienced incident controllers and command staff.
- Roadside vegetation management remains inconsistent, poorly funded and without clear accountability, increasing fuel loads and making firefighting more difficult.
- Recovery and clean-up works following the 2025–26 fires have experienced significant delays.
Mr O’Brien said the Carroll Labor Government must act immediately on the Committee’s 80 recommendations rather than delay action until after the next bushfire season.
“Gippsland is home to some of the most dedicated CFA volunteers in Victoria. They leave their families, their farms and their jobs to protect others when emergencies strike.
“They deserve better than ageing trucks, declining resources and a Government that refuses to be transparent about the state of Victoria’s emergency preparedness.
“A 26 per cent decline in CFA operational volunteers over a decade should be a wake-up call for any government. Instead, Labor has allowed regional communities to become more vulnerable.
“Only The Nationals in government will properly fund the CFA, deliver a transparent tanker replacement program, support our volunteers and scrap Labor’s Emergency Services Tax in favour of a fairer funding model.
“Gippsland deserves its fair share, especially when lives, homes and livelihoods are at stake.”
Caption: The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says a Parliamentary inquiry into Victoria’s 2025–26 bushfire season has confirmed CFA volunteers have been left without the resources they need to protect regional communities.
