Member for Euroa Steph Ryan has condemned the Victorian Government’s proposed reforms of the state’s firefighting services.
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The Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2019 will recognise the CFA as a community-based, volunteer organisation and create a new organisation, Fire Rescue Victoria.
The legislation, if passed, will also provide presumptive rights to cancer compensation for career and volunteer firefighters.
Ms Ryan said Premier Daniel Andrews had been waiting to get the federal election out of the way before he introduced the bill again.
“The Andrews Labor Government has confirmed the fears of local volunteers by reintroducing to parliament its divisive and flawed legislation to smash up the CFA,’’ Ms Ryan said.
‘‘This is a terribly sad day for CFA volunteers who have committed years to an organisation in service to the community.
‘‘Daniel Andrews is hell bent on tearing the CFA apart to give the United Firefighters Union control of the organisation.
‘‘Labor has again arrogantly introduced a bill which means CFA volunteers who get cancer won’t receive compensation unless the UFU also gains control of firefighting operations.’’
Ms Ryan said the bill sought to create Fire Rescue Victoria, staffed only by career firefighters.
‘‘Under the changes, the CFA will become a volunteer-only body, but paid staff will be contracted back to the organisation,’’ she said.
‘‘This has no practical change to Daniel Andrews’ first plan to merge the CFA and the MFB because the union will still have the power to dictate to volunteers by setting the conditions those staff work under.’’
Handing control of the state’s 35 integrated stations to the MFB would sideline volunteers in those stations and put the state’s surge capacity at risk, Ms Ryan said.
‘‘In major bushfires, our brigades rely on help from volunteers in those integrated stations to provide extra support,’’ she said.
‘‘We live in one of the most fire-prone parts of the state and, without that support, I really worry that we won’t be able to get the help we need in the event of a big fire.’’
Ms Ryan said CFA volunteers were the casualties of Labor’s plan to pay back its debt to the UFU which campaigned to get Daniel Andrews into government in 2014.
‘‘Since 2014, the CFA has lost 3534 operational volunteers. Our CFA volunteers are exhausted by the four-year fight they have had with a premier who arrogantly disregards their concerns,’’ she said.
‘‘I won’t stop fighting for our CFA volunteers. They don’t deserve to be treated in this way.’’
Administered through WorkSafe, the new cancer compensation scheme will apply to individuals who have served as firefighters for a specified number of years, depending on the cancer type, and have been diagnosed since June 1, 2016.
The new Fire Rescue Victoria will cover existing Metropolitan Fire Brigade boundaries and serve metropolitan Melbourne, outer urban areas and larger regional centres across Victoria.
It will also bring together the MFB and career CFA staff from the state’s 38 integrated CFA stations.
Boundaries will also be altered to reflect population growth across the state.
In transitioning to these new arrangements, the new model will not come into effect until mid-2020, which will mean no change for the upcoming 2019-20 fire season.
An implementation monitor will be established for 10 years to ensure strong, independent oversight of the reforms and the ongoing operation of Fire Rescue Victoria and the CFA.
CFA volunteers serving at one of the state’s 38 integrated stations will be able to remain at that station if they choose to, co-locating with Fire Rescue Victoria services under the altered boundaries
CFA acting chief executive Gavin Freeman said he was confident the reforms presented an opportunity for the CFA to grow as a community-based volunteer organisation.
‘‘Together, we will put the community at the centre of everything we do. This is both a strategic goal of the CFA and an objective of the legislation,’’ he said.
‘‘CFA also welcomes the proposed laws to give all firefighters equal access to compensation for cancers contracted while in the line of duty.
‘‘CFA members will be front of mind for our leadership team as we work through the changes and we commit to engaging extensively with volunteers, career firefighters and staff through the process.
‘‘Safety is, and will remain, our number one priority. The implementation of the reforms will not disrupt the provision of vital services to the Victorian community.’’
The government’s proposed legislation was due for a second reading in parliament yesterday, after the Seymour Telegraph went to press. Updates will appear online at seymourtelegraph.com.au
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