Council
11 February, 2026
Upper House inquiry confirmed
THE Country Fire Authority Volunteers Group (CFAVG) has expressed its relief an upper house inquiry has been established for the Victorian Government.
Over an extended period, CFA volunteers sought meaningful engagement with Premier Jacinta Allan regarding safety standards, funding shortfalls, ageing tankers and frontline capability.
CFAVG president John Houston said the Victorian Upper House Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires was a direct result of leadership failures at the highest level, following years of unresolved concerns raised by CFA volunteers and firefighters.
“When the Premier of Victoria fails to properly engage with the volunteers who protect communities across the state, the issue does not disappear but escalates,” he said.
“That escalation has now resulted in a formal Parliamentary Inquiry.
“This inquiry was not initiated out of goodwill.
“It was initiated out of political necessity.
“For years, CFA volunteers and firefighters raised legitimate and consistent concerns focused on safety and operational standards.”
Mr Houston said CFA volunteers were not seeking special treatment, only the basic protections required to safely perform their roles.
“When it became clear the inquiry would pass the Upper House without government support, the Labor Government reversed its position and moved to support the inquiry with amendments,” he said.
“These amendments were not about agreement – they were about control.
“Control of language, scope and narrative. That is damage control.
“What cannot be controlled is the lived experience of firefighters who have operated for years under conditions they have repeatedly warned were unsafe or unsustainable.”
Mr Houston, said. the broad support for the inquiry across the Upper House reflects the credibility of CFA volunteers, the trust they hold within the Victorian community and the seriousness of the issues now before Parliament.
“Governments operate on numbers. Emergency services operate on trust,” he said.
“When parliamentary numbers shift because community trust lies with volunteers, that represents a significant political turning point.”
Mr Houston said the inquiry must now lead to action.
“This inquiry is not about politics. It is about standards, safety and accountability,” he said.
“The Parliament has acknowledged the seriousness of the questions. Now the answers must follow, and they must not be shelved.
“No more narrative management. No more deflection. No more bureaucratic drift.
“Just clear findings, clear responsibility and decisive action that strengthens the safety of CFA volunteers and the communities they protect.”
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