The Briefing ‘She’s lying’: Premier bushfire backlash + Randa Abdel-Fattah threatens to sue
Jan 14, 2026
Peter Marshall, the Victorian Branch Secretary of the United Firefighters Union, dives deep into the alarming state of Victoria's firefighting resources. He claims Premier Jacinta Allan is misleading the public about funding levels, emphasizing that outdated equipment puts lives at risk. Marshall reveals shocking statistics about aging fire trucks and the government's rejection of crucial funding requests. With bushfires becoming more severe, he calls for transparency on resource audits and insists that firefighters deserve better to protect communities.
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Deteriorating Firefleet Risks Lives
- Victoria's firefighting capacity is deteriorating due to long-term underinvestment in trucks and equipment.
- Peter Marshall warns this leaves both firefighters and communities exposed during increasingly frequent campaign fires.
Campaign Fires Becoming More Frequent
- Big campaign fires are now recurring every few years rather than every eight or nine years.
- Peter Marshall links this change to evolving fire behaviour, noting fires can generate their own weather.
Pump Failures During Emergency Rescue
- Firefighters faced pump failures while trying to rescue people, forcing entry without a water supply.
- Peter Marshall recounts a case where a pump failed 12 times during a night rescue, leaving no lifeline.