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CFA funding increased, says premier

By Country News

Jan 15, 2026

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Photo: AAP Image/Con Chronis

The Victorian premier has defended her government’s resourcing for emergency services before bushfires ripped across the state.

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Jacinta Allan visited Natimuk, where about 30 homes were destroyed, to announce emergency assistance payments of up to $52,250 for uninsured households to re-establish their principal place of residence.

She disputed claims of underfunding for the CFA ahead of the bushfire season, saying her government had invested an additional $80 million for fire preparedness in November.

"To suggest that there's been anything other than an increase to the funding for the CFA is just incorrect," Ms Allan said.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the budget for the service this year was $20 million more than last year.

He said "quite a number" of complained-about appliances had been removed and 167 new trucks were on order or in production.

Mr Heffernan warned against complacency, with another “heating event” expected towards the end of January.

“Much work will be done between now and then to contain these fires,” he said.

Ms Allan earlier posted a video of herself returning to her undamaged home near Bendigo on Sunday after she was forced to flee the Harcourt fire.

– with AAP