Council
13 February, 2026
Riordan questions government funding
MEMBER for Polwarth Richard Riordan is questioning the lack of support for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) from the state government.
Speaking in Parliament last Thursday, Mr Riordan questioned Minister for Emergency Services, Natural Disaster Recovery and Equality Vicki Ward regarding the amount of funding being allocated to the CFA, while funds are made available for the Suburban Rail Loop works.
“Yeodene CFA brigade has been on the ground fighting fires in Skipton, Carlisle River and Gellibrand, yet in 2025 it received the minister’s extraordinary support of just $381 for the entire year,” he said.
“Why is the government spending 500 times more on pot plants in the Suburban Rail Loop than on CFA brigades protecting Victorians from deadly fires?
“An extraordinary $5.6 million in additional emergency services tax will be collected from the Colac Otway shire, yet the Kennedys Creek, Irrewillipe and Yeodene CFA brigades are still driving and will continue to drive around in 30-year-old tankers.
“Why are Victorians being taxed an extraordinary amount extra while our CFA brigades get less?”
Ms Ward said the government was increasing investment year-on-year for the CFA.
“To belittle the CFA the way that those opposite continue to do by talking about pot plants is quite insulting,” she said.
“Yeodene CFA, along with every CFA who has responded to the fires that we have seen this year, deserve to be congratulated, as do State Emergency Services (SES), as do Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), as do Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV).
“This government have doubled the funding in emergency services since we came to government.
“This includes the nearly $2 billion invested in the current budget in emergency services.
“No other government has invested like this government has in emergency services.”
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