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Danny O'Brien warns faulty firefighting vehicles are leaving local CFA Brigades under pressure ahead of bushfire season

Danny O'Brien has criticised the Allan Labor government for failing to repair faulty firefighting vehicles, warning the issue is placing pressure on CFA brigades and reducing Gippsland's preparedness for bushfire season.

By news@gippsland - 31st October 2025 - Back to News

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Danny O'Brien has raised concerns that the Allan Labor government's failure to maintain Victoria's firefighting vehicles is putting local CFA brigades under pressure just weeks from bushfire season.

Danny O'Brien has questioned the Allan Labor government over faulty fire fighting vehicles, warning the delays are pressuring CFA brigades ahead of bushfire season

FFMVic vehicle failures

This week in Parliament, Mr O'Brien asked the Minister for Environment when the Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) G-Wagons and Unimog fire trucks that were taken out of service due to mechanical faults would be repaired or written off.

Mr O'Brien said the Minister not only failed to answer the question but appeared to show no concern for the potential impact on local CFA brigades if they are asked to lend their own trucks to cover gaps caused by the failure of FFM vehicles.

"The Minister keeps assuring Parliament that FFMV is fully prepared and has the vehicles it needs, but won't explain where he is getting replacements and how many CFA brigades have been asked to loan appliances. Our volunteers work tirelessly to protect their communities and should not be asked to hand over trucks because a city-based Minister has failed to act for years on a known problem," he said.

Firefighting resources concern

The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria and Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath highlighted the importance of having full firefighting resources available given the ongoing fire risk from high fuel loads across Gippsland.

"The Bushfire Royal Commission recommended annual burns of five per cent to reduce forest fuel loads, but since the last major fires, less than a quarter of that target has been met. We're just weeks away from fire season and the government has failed to provide answers on the faulty FFMVic G-Wagon fleet."

"With firefighting capacity so severely reduced, Gippslanders deserve confidence that the state is prepared and has the necessary resources ready to respond," he said. Mr O'Brien said it is clear that the Allan Labor government can't manage emergency service fleet or bushfire mitigation and it is Gippslanders and our local CFA volunteers that are paying the price.

Pictures from Danny O'Brien MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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