Tuesday, 8 September 2026

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:14): (1462) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, the ABC has revealed that a record 62 Fire Rescue Victoria trucks were offline at the end of August, while frontline firefighters say mechanical and equipment failures that were once almost unheard of are now a regular occurrence. The ABC also detailed an incident where firefighters responding to a house fire in Truganina were forced to conduct a search and rescue without water after the fire truck’s pump failed. Minister, when Victorians call 000 during the worst moments of their lives, how can they have confidence they are receiving the emergency services they deserve when firefighters themselves cannot have confidence that their trucks and equipment will work when they arrive?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:14): I thank Mr Puglielli for his question and at the outset note the importance of our fire services across Victoria. That is why they are the highest funded and have the best response times in the nation. The Minister for Emergency Services is on the record addressing many of the issues that you have raised, so I am sure he would be delighted to provide you with more information in accordance with the standing orders.

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:15): Minister, this is not an isolated failure. Your government has been warned repeatedly about the condition and availability of Victoria’s firefighting fleet, yet the ABC reports that the number of FRV appliances has remained essentially unchanged since 2020 while trucks are being taken offline through wear and tear faster than replacements are being added. How many more fire trucks have to fail at emergency incidents before your government accepts that its current replacement program is not keeping pace and provides FRV with the reliable fleet Victorian communities deserve?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:15): Again, Mr Puglielli, in relation to your request for more information on the fleet, the minister will be able to provide you more information on the ESVF and allocation to FRV as well as the investment in trucks and provide you with a list of the new ones that have been rolled out since 2020.