Fire authorities are not completing all their scheduled maintenance and only completing part of it on time. This reduces assurance that faults are found before fire trucks are used in emergencies. 

FRV and DEECA have recorded an increase in unplanned repairs in recent years, which has reduced fleet availability below their target levels. This creates risks for service coverage and response readiness. 

All fire authorities have gaps in condition and performance monitoring. This limits their ability to forecast maintenance demand and act before issues develop.  

CFA has a sound asset strategy for its firefighting fleet. 

FRV's fleet planning is also sound, but its asset strategy and many of its planning documents are in draft form and incomplete. 

DEECA has significant gaps in its fleet planning, development and quality assurance processes. This has led to widespread cracking across its fleet and DEECA operating overloaded and cracked fire trucks. 

We made 6 recommendations to address our findings. The relevant agencies have accepted the recommendations in full or in principle.

What we examined

Our audit followed 2 lines of inquiry:

1. Are fire authorities planning and allocating their firefighting fleets to minimise risk to firefighters and the community?

2. Are fire authorities maintaining the condition of their firefighting fleets to ensure they are operable and safe?

To answer these questions, we examined:

Download a PDF copy of Appendix D: Government advertising spend data.

Download a PDF copy of Appendix C: Audit scope and method.

Download a PDF copy of Appendix B: Abbreviations, acronyms and glossary.

Download a PDF copy of Appendix A: Submissions and comments.

Campaign advertising is paid media designed to inform, educate, motivate or change behaviour of the general public. 

Campaign advertising compliance has improved. But there are still gaps in television advertising compliance, oversight of high-risk campaigns, and spend reporting.

Covered in this section:

More government advertising and communications is delivered through digital channels and social media, but legislation and guidance have not been updated. 

Without adequate controls, this creates risks where publicly funded content could be reused for political purposes.

Covered in this section: