The State Emergency Service has suffered a $10 million funding cut under the Allan Labor Government at a time when demand and community need are all rising.
The VICSES 2024–25 Annual Report, tabled in Parliament, shows that VICSES is now operating with reduced resources despite recording one of its busiest years on record for some activities such as assisting other agencies — placing even greater strain on the volunteer workforce.
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O’Brien, said the funding cut exposes Labor’s failure to properly support frontline volunteers.
“Labor continues to starve our frontline volunteer emergency agencies of funds while taxing Victorians $3 billion under its new emergency services tax,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Our volunteers deserve support, not spin, and these cuts show that the government is not serious when it comes to properly funding our frontline agencies.
“It’s extraordinary that in question time today, the Minister flatly denied what is there in black and white in the Annual Report*.
“You can’t listen to what Labor says, you have to look at what they do.”
“Cutting $10 million from VICSES at a time of rising callouts makes no sense — it means fewer resources, more pressure on volunteers and slower responses when Victorians need help most.”
Labor can’t manage emergency services and Victorians are paying the price.
*p 84, “Operating Grant Income victoria-state-emergency-service-authority-annual-report-2024-25.pdf
