Name: Jacinta Allan under fire over hospitals and CFA cuts
Uploaded: 2026-01-18T06:45:05.002Z
Duration: 1 min 57 s
Description: Victoria’s Premier has defended her government’s funding of firefighters after a report confirmed cuts to the CFA’s grants over the past four years. It comes as Jacinta Allan toured a major redevelopment of a hospital facing strike action.

Victoria’s Premier has defended her government’s funding of firefighters after a report confirmed cuts to the CFA’s grants over the past four years. It comes as Jacinta Allan toured a major redevelopment of a hospital facing strike action.

Frankston

The $1.1 billion upgrade to Frankston Hospital, featuring a new 12-storey tower with a helipad, 15 operating theatres, and 130 additional beds, is set to open. The project has been completed on schedule but at nearly double the original budget. The unveiling will coincide with industrial action by health workers protesting the current pay deal, with union representatives criticizing the Premier for moving the event location to avoid striking staff.

Additionally, debate continues over government funding for the Country Fire Authority (CFA). A Parliamentary Budget Office report, requested by the opposition, indicated a $12 million reduction in grant funding over four years, though the government asserts that overall CFA funding has increased due to additional payments. The latest CFA annual report, expected to be tabled soon, is likely to show further grant funding cuts but an overall rise in agency funding.

Jacinta Allan under fire over hospitals and CFA cuts

Sky high for a first look at the $1.1 billion upgrade to the Frankston Hospital. The 12-storey tower with helipad includes 15 new operating theatres and 130 more beds once fully operational. The build is on time but it's almost double the original budget. I can't say anyone can deny that this hasn't been an investment that is worth every single dollar. The new facility will open on Tuesday and be met by striking health workers over the current pay deal. The union accusing the Premier of holding her event today in a bid to avoid them. Apparently there wasn't a back door she could sneak out of the Frankston Hospital so instead she's moved the whole event to avoid essential workers. A government spokesperson said a media event would have gotten the way of patient transfers. We respect the right of all workers to take lawful industrial action. There's also rising tensions about how much the government is funding the CFA. A report by the Parliamentary Budget Office requested by the opposition confirmed Labor has cut grant funding by around 12 million dollars compared to four years ago but the report doesn't take into account extra payments the government has made to the fire agency. There has been no cut to funding for the CFA. The Liberal Party and the Liberal Leader continue to spread false misleading conspiracy theories. The only person peddling misinformation is the Premier when it comes to the reduction of funding to the CFA since 2020. The latest CFA annual report was due for release in November but will finally be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday and it will likely show another cut to grant funding but additional payments by the government will mean its overall funding to the agency did increase. In this current financial year they asked for and received an additional 20 million dollars. Harvey Biggs, 10 News.

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