The Allan Labor Government is accountable for the lack of proper investment in the fire service (including the lack of ongoing/permanent funding for fire agencies), the dire state of CFA and FRV Fire Trucks and the lack of resources and preparedness for the current fire season.
It is early in the fire season, yet the devastation caused so far has been catastrophic. It is only expected to get worse.
The fire devastation so far, who is accountable? As at 6:00AM, Tuesday 13 January 2026, there have been:
The CFA Annual Reports, which are audited by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office, show that CFA’s Budget has continued to decrease over the last 4 years.
The CFA has been forced to rely upon adhoc, additional funding to continue to function as an agency.
When asked about the late CFA Budget on 13 January, what did Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward have to say? Have a listen here…
The FRV Annual Reports, which are audited by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office, show that FRV is spending 300% more on external consultants and millions of dollars on lawyers to litigate FRV Firefighters. More taxpayer money is being spent year-on-year on consultants and lawyers than on purchasing new trucks.
Neither FRV nor CFA have tabled their 2024/2025 Annual Reports in the Victorian Parliament. They are both overdue.
FRV has also been forced to rely upon adhoc, additional funding to continue to function as an agency.
There are 792 CFA Tankers that are out of date, unsafe and unreliable – and should be off the road. 230 of those 792 CFA Tankers are over the age of 31 years old.
There are 213 FRV Fire Trucks that should be functioning and in service to protect Victorians.
However, 65% of FRV Fire Trucks – being 138 trucks – are out of date, unsafe and should be off the road. Many of these trucks are over 20 years of age – some as old as 35 years! This is unsafe, unreliable, and can fail you when you need them most.
These out of date and failing trucks are stationed all around the state – from Bendigo to Ringwood to Geelong to the Melbourne CBD.
The Government has known about this issue for years. The former Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes rejected in its entirety a FRV budget bid for critically needed FRV fire trucks. FRV said:
“As climate change is causing more frequent, prolonged and intense natural disasters, aged FRV appliances are likely to deteriorate at a more significant rate, exacerbating the need for investment. When ageing vehicles are stressed during large scale, prolonged emergency events, the impact and likelihood of failure will increase. These risks will diminish response capability and undermine the effectiveness of service delivery for Victorians and put the FRV workforce at risk.
In their current state, FRV do not have the fleet or equipment they need to sufficiently and sustainably protect their workforce and the diverse communities they serve…
If facing funding pressure, ESOs will necessarily prioritise funding for operational capability over priority operational assets, thereby leading to gaps in asset coverage. The current state of some emergency infrastructure undermines their fitness for purpose and service delivery capability.
FRV do not have the fleet or equipment they need to sufficiently protect personnel and communities.”
Source: FRV Budget Bid for Appliances
FRV Commissioner Gavin Freeman, Premier Jacinta Allan, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward have funded an Audit Report by KPMG over the state of FRV’s Fleet. The audit commenced as far back as January 2025 but the report has not been released. This report is being hidden by fire service executives and the Allan Labor Government. What have they got to hide?
Premier Jacinta Allan and former Emergency Services Minister (now Treasurer) Jaclyn Symes have turned their backs on their own local communities
The Allan Labor Government has not properly funded and resourced our volunteer and career firefighters, has ignored the CFA and FRV truck crisis and is now dealing with devastation of Victorian communities. The fire devastation is in senior Allan Government MPs’ own electorates and is the responsibility of Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward.
| Community | Details | Local ALP MP |
|---|---|---|
| Gobur community | Fatality and fire devastation | Treasurer Jaclyn Symes |
| Longwood community | Fire devastation | Treasurer Jaclyn Symes |
| Cobram community | Fire devastation | Treasurer Jaclyn Symes |
| Walwa community | Fire devastation | Treasurer Jaclyn Symes |
| Natimuk community | Fire devastation | Treasurer Jaclyn Symes |
| Streatham community | Fire devastation | Treasurer Jaclyn Symes |
| Ravenswood & Harcourt communities | Fire devastation | Premier Jacinta Allan, ALP MP Maree Edwards, Treasurer Jacinta Allan |
| Mount Mercer & Shelford communities | Fire devastation | ALP MP Michaela Settle, ALP MP Jacinta Ermacora, ALP MP Gayle Tierney |
| Kennedys Creek community | Fire devastation | ALP MP Michaela Settle, ALP MP Jacinta Ermacora, ALP MP Gayle Tierney |
| Colac/Otways communities | Fire devastation | ALP MP Michaela Settle, ALP MP Jacinta Ermacora, ALP MP Gayle Tierney |
Operational deficiencies across Fire Rescue Victoria during latest Victorian Fire Danger days
Central District
Appliance: Teleboom, BA Support, Rehab Unit
Issue: FRV Firefighters did not have the resources and equipment they needed to respond to this 3-storey structure fire with persons reported trapped. When the incident was escalated, the specialist fire trucks that would ordinarily be dispatched to a fire of that scale could not be responded as they were not available. multiple occasions.
You pay the Allan Government’s new Emergency Services & Volunteer Fund tax – where is your money going?
