Victoria Opposition pledges $200 million for CFA fleet upgrades

The Victorian state opposition has pledged $200 million to add more than 300 new trucks to the Country Fire Authority (CFA) fleet over the next five years. The independently costed policy aims to address an ageing fleet, with Opposition Leader Jess Wilson noting that more than half of the state’s fire trucks are at least 15 years old.

In addition to the vehicle upgrades, the plan includes funding for 17 new or upgraded CFA stations, recruitment boosts, and the creation of an ombudsman to oversee disputes involving volunteer firefighters. The proposal follows a report from the auditor-general warning that fire services might only receive a quarter of the $1.5 billion required to replace ageing equipment before potential catastrophic bushfire conditions.

The Coalition also intends to repeal the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund, a property tax tied to land values. Under the proposed plan, the delivery of 100 trucks per year would allow for the retirement of 802 single-cab tankers within a decade.