A better deal for Far East Gippsland
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A better deal for Far East Gippsland

The announcement of a $67 million emergency services package to keep Victorians safe is one of the latest in a long list of commitments announced by the Liberal Nationals ahead of this Saturday’s State Election.
 
“Having already announced $3.5 million for a new Orbost Police Station, along with upgrades for Mick Baum Park and Mallacoota War Bunker Museum, it is pleasing to also be able to commit more support for our CFA and SES volunteers with the Emergency Services and Public Safety package,” said The Nationals Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull.
 
This $67m package will provide Victorian emergency services with:
 
• $ 51.3m in new, rebuilt, or upgraded CFA stations;
• 100 Thermal imaging cameras to allow for the rapid location of people trapped in structure fires, identify hot spots in bushfires, and in search and rescue operations;
• Broadcast Alert Response software that assists with incident response and the management of emergency services personnel;
• Funding to the Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria to fulfil its advocacy role and expand its services including funding the return of FireWise magazine, which was cut by the Andrews Labor Government;
• Deliver 10 ‘Rapid Response Vehicles’ Mercedez-Benz Sprinter Vans (or similar) equipped with Coldcut Cobra® fire extinguishing infrastructure giving fire fighters another tool for efficient rapid response in urbanised areas; and
• Roll-out rapid Emergency Medical Response to CFA volunteer brigades to areas Ambulance Victoria has identified as suitable to improve response times and early defibrillation.
 
The package builds on the Liberal Nationals’ commitment to protect the CFA by enshrining the rights of volunteers in legislation, launching a Royal Commission into Victoria fire services and introducing Presumptive Rights Legislation Bill for all firefighters into Parliament in the first sitting week of 2019.
 
Mr Bull said a Liberal Nationals Government would also:
 
• Put new, faster trains on the Bairnsdale line;
• Provide an additional $1 billion to fix country roads;
• Make rate changes to benefit our farmers;
• Increase country patient transport subsidies;
• Boost funding for Cann River Bush Nursing Centre; and
• Make payroll tax cuts for country businesses.
 
Caption: The Nationals Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Brad Battin have announced a $67 million package for CFA brigades and SES units.
 
Monday, November 19, 2018