Council
24 May, 2024
McArthur slams SES funding snub
MEMBER for Western Victoria Bev McArthur has slammed the Victorian Government for a budget which she said shows an “appalling disregard for VICSES volunteers and units”.
Speaking during a constituency question in Parliament last week, Mrs McArthur raised concerns the recently-released Victorian Budget lacked the resources needed to support volunteer organisations with necessary equipment and infrastructure.
She said she had spoken with volunteers from a number of VICSES units across Western Victoria, including Lismore, who had expressed their disappointment.
“(Emergency service volunteers) are incredibly important to communities in regional Victoria,” Mrs McArthur said.
“Over 4800 volunteers last year contributed 287,373 hours of their time responding to accidents, floods, storms, landslides and the like.
“Yet despite experiencing one of their busiest ever years, Labor’s recent budget gave zero new funding for equipment or infrastructure.
“Worse, pre-election commitments have still either not been funded at all or will be delayed yet further.
“Despite the new $186 million hike of the fire services levy, VICSES volunteers get nothing.”
Since the speech, Camperdown’s SES unit has also reached out to Mrs McArthur.
Mrs McArthur used her constituency question to call on Minister for Emergency Services Anthony Carbines to provide clarity on when greater support would be offered.