The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has challenged the Minister for Emergency Services, Vicki Ward, after she was unable to provide base budget figures for Victoria’s emergency services organisations during the 2026/27 PAEC Budget Hearings. Ms Benham asked for the base budgets for the CFA, SES and Fire Rescue Victoria for the 2026–27 financial…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has asked the Allan Labor Government for further details on the delivery of the new Charlton CFA station following the recent funding announcement. In seeking answers, Ms Benham has asked Minister for Emergency Services, Vicki Ward, to confirm when construction of the new station is expected to begin…
Charlton CFA funding announced, questions remain The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, says the inclusion of Charlton CFA in the Allan Labor Government’s $26.2 million announcement for CFA station builds, planning, land acquisition and upgrades is long overdue, and comes after years of neglect of regional emergency services infrastructure. “This announcement has been a…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has supported the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into the 2026 summer bushfires, saying regional communities deserve transparency, accountability and stronger preparation for future fire seasons. Ms Benham said the fires, including those at Wyperfeld and Hattah Kulkyne, had a significant impact on effected areas and highlighted the…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has questioned the Premier in Parliament on why bushfire victims in some municipalities are falling through the cracks. Communities across the south of the Mildura electorate have endured multiple fires since December, with more than 2,800 hectares burned, including the Jeffcott fire on 18 December, which destroyed a…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, is calling on Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward to urgently announce funding for a new CFA station in Charlton, saying the current facility is no longer fit for purpose and is putting response times at risk. The Charlton CFA station, built in 1931, cannot accommodate modern firefighting equipment…
Dear Editor, I would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the Forest Fire Management Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria staff, along with the Country Fire Authority volunteers, local farmers, landowners and machinery operators, who worked tirelessly to help protect our region during the recent bushfires at Colignan and Wyperfeld National Park. In tough conditions, these…
Dear Sir, As we head into another fire season here in regional Victoria, it is a timely reminder to make fire preparation a priority. Understanding your local fire risk and taking steps to protect yourself, your family, and your property is vitally important. To support communities across the region, local CFA brigades are hosting Get…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham has joined parents of Manangatang P-12 College in urging the state government to review its current Fire Management Plan. The plan requires the College to bus all students to Robinvale on days of extreme fire danger, raising significant safety and logistical concerns. On these days, the school stadium…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham has issued a reminder to local residents to make fire preparation a priority this summer. “With our region’s hot, dry summer, it’s vital that everyone takes steps to protect themselves, their families, and their properties from the risk of bushfires and grassfires,” Ms Benham said. “That means proper…