$215.5 million boost for emergency services to keep state safe

The Brumby Labor Government’s record $215.5 million emergency services budget centres on ensuring Victorian communities are better prepared to address future emergencies before the next bushfire season.

The Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Bob Cameron, said that under the package announced in the 2009 State Budget, the 000 and emergency communications service would be boosted.

Mr Cameron $56.2 million would be provided to the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) to improve its capacity to manage calls and dispatch units with the Country Fire Authority, Ambulance Victoria and the State Emergency Service; and $57.1 million had been allocated for new radios and to provide upgrades to radio and pager network used by emergency services in the field.

This upgrade builds on the $450 million investment in communications since 2000.

“The Brumby Labor Government is making the right investments to keep Victorian families safe and rebuild after the bushfires,” Mr Cameron said.

“This funding will improve communication and boost the safety of emergency service workers across the State.

The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, said that as part of the 000 package, $33.2 million had been provided to upgrade Department of Sustainability and Environment pagers and radios used for fire operations and improve integration between fire agencies.

“There will be new pagers for Department of Sustainability and Environment firefighters and improvements to the pager network shared by emergency services,” Mr Jennings said.

“The unprecedented magnitude of this summer’s fires highlighted the need for further improvements to the state’s emergency communication capabilities.

“While a Royal Commission has been established to investigate the fires, this funding will enable improvements before the next fire season.”

Mr Cameron said the 2009 State Budget also delivered a significant boost to equipment and infrastructure for the CFA and VICSES, including:

• $21.1 million to replace 87 CFA appliances over the next year;
• $10.3 million to replace 15 heavy rescue vehicles, 7 four wheel drive vehicles, 9 rescue boats and 11 road crash rescue kits at VICSES Units across Victoria; and
• $10.3 million for 42 ultra light tankers.

Mr Cameron said $6.8 million funding would go to assist SES units with their day-to-day operations.

“CFA and VICSES do a tremendous job in protecting Victorians and their property across the State and the Brumby Labor Government is committed to supporting these vital organisations by investing record funding in their operations,” he said.

Further to this, an investment of $20.7 million is being made to improve communication blackspots across the State, plus enhancements to the bushfire information line.

“Since our Government came to office, Victoria’s expenditure per person on fire services has increased from the second lowest in the nation to the highest in the nation – in recognition that Victoria is a fire-prone state.”