The Community and Public Sector Union has criticised proposed staffing reductions at Emergency Management Victoria’s State Control Centre, warning the changes could undermine the state’s disaster response capacity. According to the union, a planned restructure linked to the merger of Emergency Management Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria would reduce staffing at the State Control Centre from 88 full-time equivalent positions to 31. The control centre coordinates statewide responses to emergencies including bushfires, floods and severe storms across Victoria. CPSU Victorian branch secretary Jiselle Hanna said the proposed changes would effectively move many operations away from continuous staffing arrangements despite emergencies occurring outside normal business hours. The union argued the reductions risk reversing reforms introduced after the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. The Victorian government rejected claims the centre would no longer operate around the clock. Emergency Management Victoria stated the State Control Centre would continue maintaining a 24/7 operational model under the restructure. Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes previously announced the agency merger as part of wider public sector reforms following the Silver Review.