The Napthine Liberal Government’s budget cuts to the Country Fire Authority (CFA)
are set to continue with reports this week that a further $40 million will be
cut in next week’s State Budget, Jaala Pulford, Member of Parliament for
Western Victoria said today.

Ms Pulford said that leaked documents revealed local CFA group officers were briefed by
CFA command on the Napthine Liberal Government’s plans to cut a further $40
million from the CFA in next week’s State Budget.

“Premier Napthine needs to come clean and confirm or deny this additional $40 million
budget cut,” Ms Pulford said.

The CFA is already struggling under the pressures of last year’s $41 million budget cuts,
on top of a broken election commitment of $136 million in support and training
to the state’s fire services.   

Ms Pulford said that funding cuts had impacted on vital resources and training for local
CFA members despite the guarantee by the Napthine Liberal Government that budget
cuts wouldn’t affect training or operational capacity.  

“Rather than cutting support services to local firefighters, the Napthine Liberal
Government should be supporting the CFA,” Ms Pulford said.