2026 Victorian State Election

Political Parties’ Election Commitments in relation to Victorian Fire Services and Fire Rescue Victoria

As a result of the political engagement by UFU Members in particular our Political Action Committees and PAC leaders, after extensive consultation highlighting the issues facing Fire Rescue Victoria Firefighters and the safety of both the community and Firefighters, the following political parties have announced their party policies ahead of the 28 November Victorian State Election.

Updated 10 November 2026

VICTORIAN GREENS POLICY COMMITMENTS VICTORIAN GREENS POLICY COMMITMENTS VICTORIAN GREENS POLICY COMMITMENTS VICTORIAN GREENS POLICY COMMITMENTS

  • $200 million immediate investment in new fire trucks across FRV and CFA.

  • Legislate a permanent annual fleet replacement program for FRV and CFA.

  • Wages and conditions: The Victorian Greens support a fair and independent wage determination for firefighters through the Fair Work Commission. The Greens further commit that such an agreement must not weaken or remove any existing conditions or leave firefighters any worse off than currently. This is particularly important in regards to conditions protecting safety and minimum staffing levels.

  • Cancer protections: Expand presumptive cancer legislation to cover six additional occupational cancers

  • Equipment: Invest in modern technology, communications, specialist equipment and training.

  • ESVF transparency: Greater accountability for emergency services funding and public reporting of revenue allocations.

  • Emergency risks: Stronger regulation of AI data centres, including assessment of fire risks.

 

LIBERAL-NATIONAL COALITION POLICY COMMITMENTS LIBERAL-NATIONAL COALITION POLICY COMMITMENTS LIBERAL-NATIONAL COALITION POLICY COMMITMENTS LIBERAL-NATIONAL COALITION POLICY COMMITMENTS
  • $160 million over four years dedicated to FRV fleet modernisation.

  • Accelerated replacement of ageing FRV appliances.

  • Review of fireground communications and firefighter helmet replacement program.

  • Expand presumptive cancer compensation to make it consistent with other Australian jurisdictions.

  • Shadow Minister Nick McGowan has also raised the issue of the unresolved firefighters’ enterprise agreements sitting with the Fire Service executive and the State Government
ONE NATION POLICY COMMITMENTS ONE NATION POLICY COMMITMENTS ONE NATION POLICY COMMITMENTS ONE NATION POLICY COMMITMENTS
  • Contracted, rolling FRV fleet replacement program.

  • Maintain an average fleet age of seven years.

  • Replace FRV trucks at 15 years, with orders placed at 12 years.

  • Protect frontline firefighter positions and increase firefighter numbers.

  • Fully audit Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (Tax) collection and spending.

  • Require emergency services planning in every major new housing development before homes are built.

Discussions with One Nation are ongoing regarding firefighters’ conditions of employment.

VICTORIAN SOCIALIST POLICY COMMITMENTS VICTORIAN SOCIALIST POLICY COMMITMENTS VICTORIAN SOCIALIST POLICY COMMITMENTS VICTORIAN SOCIALIST POLICY COMMITMENTS
  • Reintroduce an annually funded FRV fleet replacement program aligned with the 15-year end-of-life policy, with immediate funding for the oldest appliances.

  • Require independently verified annual parliamentary reporting on fleet age, breakdowns and replacements.

  • Fund new and upgraded stations, including developer contributions in growth areas.

  • Restore and protect existing employment conditions, end FRV litigation against employees and honour enterprise agreements.

  • Guarantee real wage increases above inflation and protect industrial action rights.

  • Keep fire service functions, maintenance and communications work publicly owned and in-house.

  • Fund fleet replacement through proposed taxes on high wealth, businesses and property.
LABOR PARTY POLICY COMMITMENTS LABOR PARTY POLICY COMMITMENTS LABOR PARTY POLICY COMMITMENTS LABOR PARTY POLICY COMMITMENTS
  • On 8 October 2026 Labor committed $167 million for 150 new fire trucks by 2030 if re-elected – 50 for FRV and 100 for the CFA
    .
  • Labor has committed that no FRV fire truck will operate beyond its 15-year service life by 2035.

  • This announcement came after more than a decade in government, during which the Auditor-General has now found that around 60% of FRV trucks are at least 15 years old and that fire authorities face a $1.5 billion fleet funding need to 2033–34.

  • Intractable bargaining: In the Fair Work Commission’s intractable bargaining case, the Labor Government – through the Minister and FRV – has used legal submissions to try to remove from firefighters’ agreement: minimum staffing; consultation; the requirement for uniform standards to be agreed; dispute resolution; the classification structure; and more.

  • Constitutional arguments: The Labor Government has also argued that the Commission does not have the constitutional power to include key protections for firefighters – an attempt to put those conditions beyond the reach of the Commission altogether.

  • $16 million:     Over $16 million has been spent in pursuing the reduction of firefighters’ conditions of employment – money that could have gone into new fire trucks.

Union view: It is totally unacceptable for the Labor Party to remove the protections firefighters have for their safety and the safety of the communities they serve. Labor is running constitutional arguments against its own firefighters and should not be supported. Because of this attack on our members’ conditions – and on the safety of firefighters and the community – the Union is running a Put Labor Last campaign.