News

Emergency Services Grants and awards | February 17, 2017

Local brigades receive funding boost

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP has congratulated local brigades who have received a funding boost under the first round of the Emergency Services Volunteer Sustainability Grants Program.

“I congratulate 11 of our local CFA brigades across the Lowan Electorate who successfully applied to receive funding,” Ms Kealy said.

“Volunteers do a huge amount of fundraising in order to apply for matching funding from the Victorian Government and any extra support they receive goes a long way,” she said.

Successful Brigades and groups to receive funding include:

• Clear Lake received $3,013.26 for a defibrillator
• Dadswells Bridge received $2,047.72 for a quick fill trailer and TV aerial
• Dimboola Urban received $11,480.00 for a thermal imaging camera
• District 17 Headquarters received $11,964.00 for blower vacs and pressure washers
• Grass Flat received $1,962.10 for catering equipment and patio heaters
• Horsham received $6,026.52 for defibrillators
• Kellalac received $1,616.32 for a chainsaw and safety equipment
• Lawloit received $2,043 for a fridge/freezer and a GPS
• Moyston received $771.81 for a portable fridge
• Murtoa received $3,013.26 for a defibrillator
• Yaapeet received $2,903.63 for AV and IT equipment

“Despite this good news, Daniel Andrew's CFA crisis is still far from over,” Ms Kealy said.

“We’ve had senior personnel resign, allegations of bullying, a Senate Committee inquiry, a Commonwealth bill amending the Fair Work Act, and civil litigation in the Supreme Court challenging the EBA.

“Last week in the Legislative Council the Liberal Nationals moved an amendment to the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 that aims to protect the rights of volunteers who are currently under siege by the Andrews Labor Government,” she said.

The bill will amend the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 to:

• Recognise the CFA as a volunteer-based organisation;
• Recognise the authority’s requirement to have regard to the Volunteer Charter and the principles and commitment contained therein;
• Restrict the authority entering any deed, agreement or arrangement that may adversely affect volunteers and or avoid the application of any Commonwealth or Victorian law.

“This Bill aims to strengthen the Volunteer Charter signed by the former Liberal Nationals Government in 2011 and that the current Labor Government has allowed to be weakened,” Ms Kealy said.