Audit finds massive funding gap

Victoria's auditor-general Andrew Greaves found one point five billion dollars is needed between two thousand twenty-four twenty-five and two thousand thirty-three thirty-four to maintain and replace the state's fire trucks.

Only a quarter allocated so far

The audit found only three hundred ninety point four million dollars, about a quarter of what was needed, had been allocated in grant and budget funds so far, an investment shortfall of more than one…

Nearly 60 percent of trucks too old

The audit examined more than three thousand fire trucks and found almost sixty percent of Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria trucks were more than fifteen years old, despite FRV internal documents recommending replacement…

Cracking puts firefighters at risk

The audit found a widespread cracking issue among trucks managed by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action had put firefighters at direct risk.

“put firefighters at direct risk”

Treasurer cut funding requests

Fire Rescue Victoria initially requested almost one hundred sixty million dollars in fleet capital for two thousand twenty-four twenty-five but reduced its actual proposal to just fourteen million dollars, less than five percent of what…

Firefighters demand accountability

United Firefighter Union boss Peter Marshall said the report demonstrated what firefighters had been saying for a long time.

“Those persons responsible for the budget cutting, the cost cutting, allowing firefighters to use equipment that was just not suitable and dangerous, they should be made accountable”

Opposition promises modernisation plan

Opposition Shadow Minister Danny O'Brien acknowledged the investment required was a very big figure but said the opposition had been working on how to afford to modernise the firefighting fleet and would have further announcements…

“We have been working on this for sometime, to trying to work out how we can afford to modernise our firefighting fleet”