Tania Maxwell MP, Member for Northern Victoria, has called on the Government to review
its requirement on CFA volunteer brigades to fundraise for their own equipment, calling it
“unfair and a disadvantage to regional communities”.

Volunteer brigades are currently required to contribute $1 for every $2 of funding from the
State Government. The regional MP said that it was another example of the inequity
between metro and regional areas.

Tania Maxwell said given the severity of the current fire season, this should be addressed as
a matter of urgency and separate to the independent investigation into the fire season.

Quotes attributable to Tania Maxwell MP:

“Regional volunteer brigades provide an invaluable service to Victoria, demonstrated
overwhelmingly in the last 3 weeks in their mobilisation to combat the firestorm battled
across multiple areas.”

“Forcing volunteer brigades to fundraise for their own firetrucks and equipment
compromises the safety of our regions and it places an enormous burden on volunteers and
on communities, who often struggle already.”

“This is another demonstration of the inequity between metro and regional areas. It needs
to be scrapped.”

“The general public would not expect police to provide their own tasers or divvy vans or for
paramedics to pay for their own ambulances.”