Politics · Australia · 3 hrs ago
Victorian Coalition pledges 335 new fire trucks if it wins state election
Victoria’s Coalition opposition has promised 335 new CFA fire trucks if it wins the state election later this month.
The $200 million plan also includes 17 new or upgraded fire stations and a campaign to recruit 10,000 CFA volunteers over 10 years.
The promise comes as Victoria faces an ageing fire truck fleet; the state auditor-general said more than $1 billion was needed to upgrade it.
The Coalition says 802 single-cab tankers leave firefighters exposed to heat, smoke and dust, and says it would replace them over about a decade.
Labor has separately promised $167 million for 150 new trucks for the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria by 2030.
The Coalition’s plan depends on winning the election, and it would also scrap Labor’s emergency services tax and bring back the previous property levy model.
The Victorian Coalition has promised 335 new Country Fire Authority trucks over five years if it wins the state election later this month.
The $200 million plan also includes 17 new or upgraded fire stations and a drive to recruit 10,000 CFA volunteers over a decade.
Shadow Emergency Services Minister Danny O'Brien said the investment would improve equipment and protect firefighters.
The pledge comes after the auditor-general found more than $1 billion was needed to upgrade the state's aging fire truck fleet.
Labor announced a separate $167 million investment last month, covering 150 new trucks across the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria by 2030.
- Who
- The Victorian Coalition, including the Liberal and National parties.
- What
- It pledged 335 new CFA trucks over five years, along with 17 new or upgraded stations and a volunteer recruitment drive.
- When
- The pledge was reported on November 1, 2026. The election is later that month.
- Where
- Victoria, Australia.
- Why
- The Coalition said the state's aging fire fleet needs upgrades and firefighters need safer, appropriate equipment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The auditor-general found that more than $1 billion was needed to upgrade the state's aging fire truck fleet.
Labor announced a $167 million investment for 150 new trucks across the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria by 2030.
The Coalition's pledge was reported ahead of the state election later that month.
- New CFA trucks
- 335 over five years
- Plan cost
- $200 million
- Fire stations
- 17 new or upgraded
- Volunteer recruitment
- 10,000 CFA volunteers over a decade
- Labor's truck plan
- 150 new trucks across the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria by 2030
What people are saying
We've seen our fire fighting fleet deteriorate over the years
Fifty seven per cent of our trucks are at least 15 years old according to the auditor general, and in the CFA it's about 25 per cent that are more than 30 years old.
At the moment … out of about 2,200 CFA trucks, 802 of them are single cab tankers still
Volunteers do so much work and we need to have the resources and equipment that they deserve