Nationals call for firefighting scheme to be made permanent

NSW NATIONALS MPs are calling on the NSW Government to immediately deliver its promised Farm Fire Fighting Vehicle scheme, months after the second of two trial periods ended.

In January 2024 Labor committed to provide conditional registrations that would enable farmers to drive unregistered vehicles on public roads in an emergency, but is yet to make the program permanent.

An initial trial was run between December 2023 and March 2024, with participants nominating a vehicle used for firefighting purposes, to respond to emergency bush fire incidents on public roads within 100km of their home.

FFFVs might be utility vehicles fitted out with hoses and other firefighting equipment.

A second trial was run from 13 December 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Gurmesh Singh said the scheme is a crucial measure that would boost firefighting capacity, with the bushfire season just weeks away.

“When a fire breaks out, farmers are often the first to respond, and they can play a key role in limiting damage to property and protecting lives, particularly before emergency crews arrive,” Mr Singh said.

“There’s been multiple successful trials now and the scheme has received widespread support, so the Minns Government needs to finally make this commonsense change that could make all the difference when disaster strikes.”

Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Dave Layzell said regional communities are being put at risk. “Farm Fire Fighting Vehicles tend to be used around the farm and not on public roads, which is why the conditional registration will be a good way to allow them to attend nearby fires, without the high cost of a full registration,” Mr Layzell said.

“We don’t want a situation where landholders are deterred from helping their neighbours in a fire situation because the Government was too slow to act on something it promised.”
NSW Nationals Upper House member Scott Barrett sought an update on the scheme in the Legislative Council in June.

“Given the second trial concluded three months ago, on 31 March 2025, when will a permanent scheme be announced so that farm firefighting vehicles can be registered in a timely manner ahead of the official commencement of the 2025-26 bushfire season on 1 October 2025?” he asked.

In response, Minister for Roads John Graham said the review of the second trial had been completed and submitted to the Minister for Roads.

He said he was unable to provide further information at the time.