Victoria’s Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has pledged stronger funding and support for Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers, using a visit to Wollert in Melbourne’s fast-growing northern suburbs to criticise what she described as government neglect of emergency services in expanding communities.
Wilson was joined by Liberal Member for the Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland, where both met with volunteers from the Wollert CFA brigade and signed a formal pledge committing a future Liberal-Nationals government to increase funding, resources and recognition for volunteer firefighters.
The visit comes amid growing pressure on emergency services in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, where rapid population growth has stretched infrastructure and emergency response capacity.
“The Wollert CFA volunteers are doing a fantastic job serving their local community and ensuring residents along Melbourne’s rapidly growing north more broadly are protected from all manner of emergencies,” Ms Wilson said.
“They desperately need the support of a government that will commit to funding and resourcing them properly, which just isn’t happening under Labor’s wrong priorities.”
She said a future Liberal and Nationals government would prioritise restoring funding and ensuring CFA brigades had the resources required to respond effectively to fires and emergencies.
“I am proud to sign this pledge and commit that — if elected — a Wilson Liberal and Nationals government will provide the CFA the support it deserves,” she said.
Ms Wilson also thanked Wollert CFA Captain Senad Tubic and First Lieutenant Tony Ellis for their leadership, acknowledging the brigade’s efforts during major fires over the summer, including incidents in Longwood, Ruffy and Harcourt.
She additionally recognised the contributions of volunteers from multicultural backgrounds, including members of the Indian Australian community serving in the brigade.
Mr Mulholland, whose electorate includes Melbourne’s northern growth corridor, said the challenges facing CFA volunteers reflected broader infrastructure pressures across rapidly expanding suburbs.
“It’s great to host Jess Wilson here in Wollert and for her to see the challenges this community is facing, like so many across Victoria,” he said.
“I’m also a proud signatory of the CFA volunteer pledge and I’ve seen firsthand the important work they do to keep our community here in the north safe.”
He criticised the state government’s handling of emergency services support, arguing volunteer brigades required stronger backing to meet increasing demand.
The CFA is one of the world’s largest volunteer-based emergency services organisations, with more than 50,000 volunteers across Victoria responding to fires, road accidents, rescues and other emergencies.
Melbourne’s northern growth corridor, including Wollert, has been among the fastest-growing regions in Australia, with population growth placing increased pressure on transport, schools, health services and emergency response infrastructure.
Opposition leaders have sought to position CFA funding and support as a key political issue, particularly in growth areas where communities rely heavily on volunteer brigades.
The Victorian government has previously pointed to investments in emergency services infrastructure, equipment upgrades and training programs, but debate continues over whether these measures are sufficient to meet demand in rapidly expanding suburban and regional areas.
With Victoria’s next state election approaching in 2026, support for emergency services volunteers is expected to remain a central issue, particularly in outer metropolitan and regional electorates where CFA brigades play a critical frontline role.
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