MINISTERS STATEMENTS: FIRE SERVICES FUNDING

Mr PALLAS (Treasurer) — I rise to update the house on new achievements of the Andrews government in delivering stronger fire services to keep Victorians safe. The Andrews government recently announced that changes to the fire service property levy mean that no homeowner in Metropolitan Fire Brigade or Country Fire Authority (CFA) areas will be worse off.

The government also announced in the 2016–17 Victorian budget that it will ensure that an additional 450 firefighters, including 350 firefighters in CFA areas, will be deployed in line with recommendations of the royal commission. This budget includes $46.2 million to respond to the closure of Fiskville by establishing a new firefighting training centre in Central Highlands and upgrading the training facility in Huntly.

Those opposite did not want to hear about Fiskville, and indeed the member for Rowville went so far as to deny there was a link between firefighting and cancer. The Andrews Labor government has achieved this without slugging — —

Mr Clark — On a point of order, Speaker, the Treasurer is misleading the house and debating the issue. I ask you to bring him back to complying with sessional order 7.

Ms Allan — On the point of order, Speaker, the Treasurer is not misleading the house. In an article published in the Age of 21 August 2013, the then emergency services minister is quoted as saying:

We are not convinced that there is a direct link between cancer and firefighters …

Therefore the Treasurer is being entirely relevant to the material before the house.

Mr R. Smith — On the point of order, Speaker, I also draw your attention to a press release which says that a coalition government would introduce presumptive legislation for firefighters, dated — —

The SPEAKER — Order! Not a good look. The Chair is not impressed. The Chair is on his feet, and the member for Warrandyte should respect that. The Chair warns the member for Warrandyte again. The Chair will not warn the member for Warrandyte again. There is no point of order.

Mr Andrews — On a point of order, Speaker, the member for Warrandyte I am sure was quoting from a document, and he might make that document and the device that holds it available to the house.

The SPEAKER — Order! Is the member for Warrandyte quoting from a document?

Mr R. Smith — I am very happy to table the document, not my phone, but I will make it — —

Honourable members interjecting.

The SPEAKER — Order! The member for Warrandyte will now resume his seat. If the member was quoting from a document, the member may provide the document to the Clerk by the usual procedure by sending an email.

Mr PALLAS — Clearly there is no causal link between the opposition and integrity. This government has achieved these great outcomes without increasing the variable rates payable on capital improved values.

We are also making sure that we are delivering for our fire services: 70 additional trucks for the CFA areas; the rollout of the emergency medical response to all integrated brigades; and the rebuilding of a number of stations, whether it be in Huntly, Buninyong, Plenty or Edithvale. Those opposite took $66 million from the fire services budget, and they waged war on its volunteers and its employees. That is not the way that the Andrews Labor government intends dealing with our fire services. We will resource them, and we will ensure that they get the capacity to deal with the issues that matter most to Victorians.