From the Benalla & District Fire Brigades Group, reports have surfaced of 14 out of 21 firefighting appliances being beyond their recommended service life. These reports follow recent backlash for the state government funding controversies, with an increase in CFA funding over the last year, but funding being more than halved when compared to pre-2020 numbers. Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie Lee-Tyrrell has criticised the state of Victoria’s firefighting appliances in a statement released on Monday, February 23.
“CFA volunteer safety and equipment that best protects communities during the bushfire season should be one of the government’s highest priorities…”
“CFA brigades throughout Victoria are littered with out-of-date appliances, and this is no more evident than in the Benalla area,” said the MP.
So far, there have been no statements regarding this issue by the state government.
