BUSHFIRES – VICTORIA

Allan denies firefighting funding cuts

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Original article by Anthony Galloway, Liam Mendes
The Australian – Page: 7 : 13-Jan-26

Victoria’s Opposition claims that the state government has cut funding to the Country Fire Authority, with the CFA’s most recent annual report being cited as evidence. It shows that government grant funding fell from $351.6m to $339.5m over the four years to 2023-24, with the CFA’s 2024-25 annual report not yet released. With Premier Jacinta Allan rejecting the opposition’s claims, the row over funding comes as CFA volunteers fighting the state’s current bushfires have claimed that they are being expected to do so in ageing trucks with no air-conditioning in temperatures of up to 40C. About 27 fires were still burning across Victoria on Monday.

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VICTORIA. COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Bushfire experts say it’s time to revisit Black Saturday recommendations and stop people rebuilding in highly dangerous areas

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Original article by Loretta Florance, Norman Hermant
abc.net au – Page: Online : 21-Jan-20

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s 2009 Black Saturday bushfires recommended a voluntary buy-back of properties in high-risk areas. However, then-premier John Brumby did not accept the recommendation, although the buyback idea was adopted with significant modifications by new premier Ted Baillieu after the Coalition was voted into government in 2010. Melbourne University fire ecologist Kevin Tolhurst says there are some parts of the Australian bush where houses should never have been constructed – or rebuilt.

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UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Bushfires prompt Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to declare state of disaster as blazes bring unprecedented risk

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Original article by Brad Ryan
abc.net au – Page: Online : 3-Jan-20

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has declared a State of Disaster for six local government areas and three alpine resorts as the state’s bushfire crisis threatens to get worse. The six LGAs include the Mansfield Shire and the East Gippsland Shire, while Mt Buller is one of the three alpine resorts. The State of Disaster declaration, which applies for a week, was one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. In making his announcement, Andrews stated a second person had died during the current bushfires, but declined to give any further details, while 17 people remain missing. Over 780,000 hectares have been burnt so far in Victoria, while there are currently 50 ongoing fires.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET