By Mitchell Clarke
The opposition has accused the State Government of placing Victorian communities at risk, after the Forest Fire Management annual report found ‘direct fuel management’ funds had declined.
In 2014/15, $50.2 million was spent on direct fuel management but in 2018/19, that figure dropped to just $18.2 million.
Narracan MP Gary Blackwood said the redirection of funds to planning and reporting had resulted in a “failure to deliver outcomes”.
“This is devastating for all Victorians and the safety of communities, particularly here in Narracan following fires in early 2019 which had already raised concerns around fuel loads and their management,” Mr Blackwood said.
Shadow Emergency Services Minister and Gembrook MP Brad Battin added it was a “significant failure” by the Andrews Government.
“With just 15 per cent of the hazard reduction budget going to protecting communities and 85 percent in reporting and planning, it is no wonder fuel loads across Victoria are at extremely dangerous levels,” Mr Battin said.
“Andrews’ decision to refuse to release fuel load data maps for Victoria is hiding the fact fuel loads are so high due to his cuts in hazard reduction burning.
“The fire season is not finished; there is still a very real danger of more fires across Victoria, putting lives and communities at risk.”
But according to the State Government, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) refined the categories for what was considered ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ fuel management expenditure and that funding for direct fuel management actually increased by 25 percent from 2017/18 to 18/19.
The Gazette understands Forest Fire Management staff salaries have shifted from the ‘direct’ category to the ‘indirect’ category, which would answer for the decline on ‘direct fuel management’ in the 2018-19 report.
Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio hit out at the opposition and said unlike the opposition, Labor has increased funding.
“We won’t be lectured to on fire safety by Brad Battin – who lied about Black Saturday and has never apologised for it,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“We have increased funding for fuel management by more than 30 percent since coming to office – unlike the Liberals, who cut $66 million from the CFA.”
