The key body supporting volunteer firefighters has slammed the State Government’s lack of budget transparency and cruel emergency services tax.
After the Liberals and Nationals called out Labor for refusing in Parliament to confirm cuts to the Country Fire Authority’s budget, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) has launched its own stinging attack.
Budget cuts to the CFA, SES and Fire Rescue Victoria were revealed by the Treasurer in a Government Gazette, but the Minister and the Premier have refused to acknowledged them.
In its monthly newsletter, VFBV chief executive officer Adam Barnett has mocked Labor for secrecy on CFA budget cuts as it hits Victorians with a new emergency services tax.
“If ‘I love you’ are the three hardest words in the English language according to Hollywood and boybands, then ‘The CFA budget is….’ must be the four hardest
words for a Victorian MP to utter,”
Mr Barnett wrote in reference to Labor’s secrecy.
In Question Time in Parliament and across two weeks of public estimates hearings, neither the Premier, Treasurer or Emergency Services Minister would confirm the CFA’s budget – nor that of the SES or Fire Rescue Victoria.
“Each handballed to the other, with the Premier’s testimony in particular a sickening example of meaningless rhetoric dressed up as compassion and empathy that ultimately ignores the very people they claim to support,” Mr Barnett wrote.
Labor is taking more – through the cruel emergency services – and giving less.
“Despite documenting a record tax hike under its new emergency services tax, less of that money is making its way to the CFA than ever before,” Mr Barnett wrote.
“The extra money collected is
now being diverted to government departments and public sector employees, making a mockery that this new tax would be supporting Victoria’s front line
emergency services.
“This is the reality of the new emergency services tax. Gouging the eyes out of Victorian property owners without actually addressing the fundamental issues of Victoria’s creaking old fire truck fleet.”
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O’Brien, said volunteers were being consistently shortchanged
“The VFBV is confirming what we all know – Labor is cutting the CFA budget while hitting us with a new tax,” Mr O’Brien said.
Labor keeps denying there’s a cut to the CFA, but there’s only one way to back up the denials – give us a straight answer to a simple question.
“The Nationals and Liberals will scrap the emergency services tax in government and will continue to fight for all volunteers.”
