Here we are only just getting over last
Christmas and its November already.
It is now that time of the year when communities and brigades across Victoria are well into their summer preparedness and whilst brigades continue to deal with the day to day fires and emergencies that occur
year-round there is also that anxious air of what is to come in the summer months ahead.
There is always lots of forecasting and different views about what we are in for - but the consensus amongst the experts, fuel loads, dryness and early fires in
some parts of the State, are all pointing to this being a serious fire season at the least.
Globally there have been a number of telling reminders and tragic loss of life due to major fires including those in California, Spain and Portugal. Our
thoughts and prayers go to those who have lost their lives, loved ones, homes and livelihood and also those emergency service personnel and others who are battling these major fires.
The devastation wreaked by fires such as those in California,
Spain, and Portugal are also stark reminders of the often catastrophic impact of fire and the reality that Victoria is one of the most fire prone areas in the world.
For as long as I can remember Victoria has taken pride in the fact that we have one
of the greatest fire services in the world thanks to our highly trained and enormous volunteer capacity and because of the existing integrated team of volunteers and paid staff working together and in support of each other as one and as equals.
And
yes, I do imply a dig here at the people who want to denigrate it or rip it apart and ask anyone in a position of decision making power to stop and think about what legacy your own decisions and influence will leave in terms of the future sustainability of a thriving CFA. And be clear, I think the current fire service reform plan and attitude of some toward what the CFA is at its core - is heading us in a disastrously wrong direction. Beyond the sadness arising from any life loss or major
community devastation, the recent major fires in other parts of the world reinforce my deep concern about the possibility that the reckless proposal to dismantle the CFA may have already triggered a slippery slide that will weaken Victoria’s ability to deal with major emergencies in the future.
I hear it in the voices, and see it in the faces of the many volunteers who share with me their concerns of the low morale triggered by the slippery slide that has started. But – it is not beyond repair. As I have said to many who are wondering why they should keep bothering – for now my advice is to stay patient, keep your resolve, get on with what we do for our communities and also stay vigilant and prepared to redouble our efforts if
attempts are made to ram through flawed policy or politically driven restructure of the fire services and particularly if the current flawed legislation proposal is not taken off the table.
Like many volunteers I speak to, I do not look back on the
past year with much fondness. It has been a frustrating journey to say the least and I am constantly asked when will the Government take the proposed Fire Service restructure off the table and start genuinely respecting volunteers so that we can get on with focussing on something positive and get on with serving the community as we have done year in year out, day in day out.
Sadly, the reality is that despite the Victorian Government’s Fire Service legislation failing to yet be passed or even considered in detail by the Victorian Parliament Upper House it seems our concerns about the fundamental flaws contained within it have still not been heard by some.
Even though the legislation has barely been debated in the Upper House and despite all indications that it does not have the support required to be passed, the Government has had it listed as an agenda item for each of the recent sittings of Parliament so its fate is still not
final.
Regardless of the fact that the legislation has not yet been supported by Parliament, it does look like the Government and CFA are bullishly pushing on with some elements of the reform program and VFBV shares the concern of many volunteers
that this this highly inappropriate. The big question is what will it take to bring things back to order and transparent process?
As a long serving volunteer said to me earlier this week “. . there is something very fishy going on and perhaps the
recently proposed Royal Commission (into Victoria’s Fire Service) is the only way to truly get to the bottom of it”.
VFBV’s submission to the Fire Services Reform Bill Select Committee Inquiry proposed the best way forward is that the legislation
should not proceed nor be supported until it has been subject to a proper, transparent review and impact analysis. VFBVs submission to the select committee was that a proper process of inquiry, problem analysis and solution development, done with genuine engagement and transparency would be the best way to set the foundations for improving culture, trust, respect, leadership and harmony within and across the fire services.
We have said we would welcome such a process and any opportunity to actively participate in it. Certainly a Royal Commission would provide such a process. Based on the discussions I have had with many volunteers, and also from the ‘quiet’ discussions I have with many well regarded paid officers throughout the
sector it seems most people agree.
Victoria’s fire services arrangements are so vitally important we cannot afford to get it wrong and the best and most powerful instrument for fair and transparent analysis is certainly a probing and highly focussed
Royal Commission.
Whilst some people will be tired of reviews, we are definitely more tired of the games being played and the hidden agendas dragging CFA down. And we cannot afford to let tiredness or despair make us give up on the hope of a proper
outcome.
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Fire Service is only a proposal at this stage as it is a policy position of the Victorian Coalition should they be elected next year. Sadly, if a Royal Commission is the only way we are going to remove
the ugly politics that has dominated this sad journey then perhaps it is the only answer. I am sure there will be ongoing discussion about this over the coming year.
“A Royal Commission is the only way you will get key people to speak up without
fear or without being gagged” is probably the most telling comment I have heard and is a common view amongst most people I have spoken with.
And I agree - let’s get the rubbish off the table; focus now on summer and the work we have to do each day;
hold our values; be hopeful that the truth will prevail; and encourage a proper and transparent inquiry, whatever form it takes so that we leave the CFA legacy stronger than we inherited it.
