What Actually Happened: Why Georgie Purcell Supported the Fire Services Funding Bill

You may have seen the headlines. You might have read angry social media comments, or even received messages from people frustrated by the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Bill 2025.

Yes—Georgie Purcell MP supported the bill.
No—she didn’t do a “deal” with the government.
And yes—she secured real, on-the-record changes before giving it her vote.

Here’s what actually happened.

The Bill Was Going to Pass — But It Was Flawed

The government’s original proposal had serious problems:

• It risked placing an unfair burden on farmers

• It ignored the contributions of emergency service volunteers

• It dumped new administrative tasks onto already stretched local councils

Georgie knew the bill would likely pass with or without her vote. So instead of walking away, she used her position as a crossbencher to make it better—and fairer—for the people and communities who would be affected most.

What Georgie Secured Before Supporting the Bill

After consultation and negotiation, Georgie secured the following key amendments:

🔹 Lower levy rates for farmland than originally proposed
🔹 Rebates for CFA and SES volunteers, including volunteers living or working on farms
🔹 Ringfenced funding, legally requiring every dollar raised to go directly to emergency services—not general revenue
🔹 Annual public reporting, so the public can see exactly how the money is spent
🔹 Reduced administrative burden for councils, with the state taking over volunteer exemption management

These weren’t verbal promises or handshake deals—they’re embedded in the legislation or supported by formal commitments tied to implementation.

Why the Bill Matters

Victoria’s emergency services are under growing pressure due to climate change. Fires, floods and storms are becoming more frequent and more severe. Two major inquiries—the 2022 flood inquiry and a recent climate resilience review—have made it clear: emergency services are not resourced for what’s coming.

This bill guarantees 95% of the annual funding for CFA, VICSES, and Fire Rescue Victoria—locking in financial stability at a time when these services are more critical than ever.

It also delivers more than $250 million in additional support for:

• New trucks, radios, and equipment

• Volunteer training

• Faster emergency response in regional areas

• Better outcomes for wildlife and farmed animals during disasters

This is core Animal Justice Party business: protecting lives and defending those who can’t defend themselves.

No Deal. No Trade-Off. Just Advocacy That Worked

Let’s put it plainly:
There was no backroom deal.
Georgie didn’t “sell out.”

She worked transparently and independently, from outside government, to help make the bill better—securing changes for farmers, volunteers, and rural communities. While negotiations weren’t conducted in public view (as is standard), her intentions and actions were guided by consultation, clear conditions, and accountability to the Party and community.

Voting “no” may have made a louder statement—but it would have meant walking away from real improvements that are now built into law. That’s not our style. We’re here to make change—not noise.

We Welcome Honest Questions

We understand that some members and supporters are upset—and that’s okay. It’s healthy to hold your elected representatives accountable. We’re proud that you expect us to stand firm in our values. We do too.

If you have questions or want to discuss further, you’re welcome to get in touch at [email protected].

Thank you, as always, for standing with us in the fight for a kinder, more just world.