Farmer News
1 December, 2025
Brigades call for fair go
AS Victoria braces for what the CFA warns could be a dangerous fire season, country brigades are preparing for long days, sleepless nights, and tough conditions.
And all this comes along with (in many cases) ageing trucks, limited funding and growing pressure on volunteers.
“Out here in the country, the CFA isn’t just an emergency service, it’s part of the community,” CFA Volunteers Group Inc. member Leigh Harry said.
“We’re the neighbours, farmers, and local workers who train, turn out, and fundraise to keep our towns safe.”
But Leigh warns that as fire seasons grow longer and conditions worsen, the strain on rural brigades is very real.
“Many still operate with outdated gear, long travel distances for training and fewer volunteers,” he said.
“We don’t expect special treatment, just a fair go.”
And according to Leigh, one-size-fits-all policies simply don’t work for those in the bush.
“What suits a city brigade doesn’t always fit a farming district where the next truck might be more than 20 kilometres away,” he said.
“Country brigades need country solutions - fair funding, modern equipment, and training that matches our reality.
“A fair go for country brigades isn’t just about equity, it’s about keeping every Victorian community strong, safe, and ready for what lies ahead.”
As the recently-introduced emergency services and volunteers fund levy begins to roll out through council and shire rates across the state, Leigh said he and thousands of volunteer brigade members will continue to lobby the state government to abolish the tax and ease the burden on “already stressed farmers and other property and home owners.”
“We certainly need to educate people living in metro Melbourne and big regional centres about how this tax effects so many in rural areas like ours, and how that money is actually being spent,” Leigh said.
“It’s certainly not being filtered back into our brigades and that’s a real concern too because so many have outdated equipment and desperately need funding.
“What’s also concerning is that I’ve heard Forest Fire management has recalled around 300 vehicles that have structural defects, cracked chassis and desperately need work before the fire season.
“And that could place added stress on fire brigades if they are needed to lend equipment.
“While some brigades across the state have threatened that they won’t respond to national parks callouts, our objective to protect lives and property will always remain.
“It appears people are starting to push back; we all just want and deserve a fair go.”
Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell has added her voice of concern, saying she believes the state government has failed to prepare Victoria for the bushfire season.
“As Victoria braces for another dangerous bushfire season, the Allan Labor Government has left communities, industries and national parks exposed through neglect and inaction,” she said.
“Victoria has endured its driest season in decades. The bush is a tinderbox, yet immense fuel loads remain untouched.
“Farmers, park managers and locals are sounding the alarm but the government has failed to respond.”
Ms Britnell added that firefighting infrastructure was “crumbling.”
“Hundreds of CFA trucks are nearing 30 years’ service, while 350 Forest Fire Management (FFM) vehicles are offline.
“Despite pleas for upgrades, the government refuses to invest in modern equipment or AI-enabled fire detection technology.”
She said Victoria was relying on obsolete systems while frontline communities remain vulnerate.
“The state government has also failed to meet even a third of the planned burn targets recommended by the Black Saturday Royal Commission – a failure that threatens lives, livelihoods and our natural heritage.
“The lessons of Black Saturday clearly haven’t been learned.”
Ms Britnell believes the state government is leaving Victoria dangerously unprepared.
“Communities deserve better than outdated trucks, unfunded recovery plans and hollow promises. Fire mitigation and prevention must be treated as a priority because lives, jobs and our environment depend on it.”