With summer approaching, Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull has blasted the Allan Labor Government for leaving regional communities dangerously exposed to bushfire risk.

“CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan has warned of record fuel loads across public land, creating the potential for catastrophic fires.

Yet Labor’s response is to punish volunteers, gut resources and not complete the levels of fuel reduction burning required,” he said.

“Since 2023, we are down 5,000 operational volunteers, many who have walked away and one of the reasons is the new Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund tax, which hits country people hardest,” Mr Bull said.

“The failures don’t stop there. Forest Fire Management Victoria has pulled 349 specialist firefighting vehicles from service due to safety defects, leaving Victoria to borrow trucks from interstate just to fill the gaps.

The Minister won’t tell us when the vehicles will be back online. “How can Labor claim we’re fire-ready when hundreds of critical vehicles are sidelined and there’s no publicised plan to replace them?”

Meanwhile, Victoria’s CFA fleet is the oldest in the nation, with ageing trucks increasing breakdown risks. Modern equipment is essential for safety, yet Labor has ignored this for years. The latest round of grants is too little to address this issue,” Mr Bull said.

Adding fuel to the fire, Labor has failed to meet the Bushfire Royal Commission’s recommendation to treat 5% of public land annually.

The target hasn’t been met for over a decade, leaving record fuel loads and dry conditions - a perfect storm for disaster.

“We know what happens when Labor neglects land management. Communities pay the price.”

With thousands of tourists set to visit Gippsland this summer, Mr Bull urged locals to update their fire plans but warned, preparedness starts with leadership.

“Labor can’t manage money and can’t manage its own budget, so it’s coming after yours through increased taxes to pay for its reckless and irresponsible spending,” he said.

Caption: The Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull says Labor has failed to meet the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission’s recommendation for fuel reduction, which drew upon the expertise of Australia’s most pre eminent bushfire and environmental scientists.

Monday, 8 December 2025