24/04/2026
In what looks a lot like the usual pre-election sugar hit, the Victorian Labor Government has rolled out a funding boost for firefighters – right on cue with a state election around the corner.
But not everyone’s clapping along.
Marong CFA volunteer Michael Shay – who’s been doing the job for 35 years – wasn’t buying the timing for a second, and he didn’t tiptoe around it when questioning Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards.
“Who are you taxing the most?” he asked her directly – not exactly the kind of line she would have scripted for a viral media moment.
“It’s really good that you’re doing it,” he added, acknowledging he was supportive the funding. “But it’s election year. Why weren’t you doing it four years ago and previous?”
While the government’s handing out funding with one hand, it’s also bringing in taxes with the other – and plenty are wondering why it suddenly finds its generosity when votes are on the line.
It’s also exactly the kind of thing driving a growing shift across regional Victoria – frustration building, trust slipping, and more voters looking toward One Nation as Labor’s support continues to slide.
For volunteers like Michael, it’s less about the headline and more about the timing – and whether it’s genuine support, or just politics when election season rolls around.
