PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
On 2 August, we made
a presentation and submission to the ‘Inquiry into Fire Season Preparedness’ by the Victorian Parliament’s Environment and Planning Standing Committee.
The presentation and evidence lasted several hours and covered the vital
importance of CFA volunteers to fire season preparedness, the essential nature of CFA‘s volunteer surge capacity, the interrelationship between fire service delivery in outer metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria’s fire season preparedness, and the importance of CFA’s integrated model for managing this interrelationship.
We drew attention to the proposed EBA’s many impacts: on the powers of the Chief Officer, the volunteer based and integrated nature of CFA, and Victoria’s fire season preparedness and operations. We also expressed concern over the widely varying cost estimates that range from the hundreds of millions to over one billion dollars.
We urged the Committee members to do all they can to investigate the EBA problems we have raised, ensure appropriate awareness of the problems and seek necessary remedies to them.
You can see a summary of VFBV’s evidence on the VFBV website, and copies are in the hands of your State Councillors and District Council executive members.
THE PREMIER’S TROUBLING COMMENTS
In recent weeks Premier Daniel Andrews has told the media that the proposed EBA will not affect volunteers. He
has accused those who say it will affect volunteers and public safety to be liars, spreading grubby mischief and following a political agenda.
In the past week he has even implied that if the dispute went on, lives may be lost because CFA members
were not focussed on the job if the industrial dispute continued, telling a radio interview:
“… the price is me having to sit in this studio and say to you that lives were lost, property was lost, because the CFA was
not focused on keeping Victorians safe, I’m not prepared to do that.”
These comments are an insult to all CFA members, volunteers and paid. For all of us, our public service to the people of Victoria, our commitment to public safety comes
first and we will never be distracted from that. The very reason we are taking a stand on the EBA is because of a profound commitment to a volunteer based, fully integrated CFA as the best way to provide public safety for Victorians.
OUR REQUESTS TO CFA
VFBV is waiting for CFA’s reply to our requests for further information on:
- Whether the catchall clause 7A is the only proposed protection for volunteers
- How the proposed CFA Greater Alarm Response System (GARS) would work
- The effects on volunteers of clause 43.2.7; “seven professional firefighters to fireground incidents are dispatched before commencement of safe firefighting operations…”
- Why BASO and Volunteer Support Programs are sought to be included in the Operational EBA. These are fundamental volunteer support programs
and impacts on volunteer brigades across Victoria, which is a direct contradiction of the Premier’s and Minster’s assurances that the proposed EBA has no effect on volunteer brigades
- How CFA will ensure VFBV and volunteers are genuinely consulted on issues handled by the EBA’s dispute resolution processes
- The content of the proposed Infrastructure Agreement between CFA and UFU, to be placed on file at the same time as the EBA is lodged with FWA, and how VFBV and volunteer members of those Brigades will have genuine opportunity to have input before any decision is made
- The listing of four additional locations above the
quoted “34” for integrated brigades - a direct contradiction of the Premier’s and Minster’s assurances that the proposed EBA will only affect 34 locations
- How the Emergency Management Commissioner will ensure genuine consultation, ensure the CFA Act is not overridden, take any necessary action in the Fair Work Commission, and protect the roles of volunteers in accordance with
the CFA Volunteer Charter?
- When VFBV will receive an updated proposed EBA, showing amendments that are proposed to accommodate the volunteers’ concerns
- Whether there is a proposed interpretation document that will guide the application of clauses in the EBA,
and when it will be provided to VFBV for discussion and consultation
CFA BOARD APPOINTMENTS
The CFA Board
is now complete, with the appointment of four volunteer nominated members, chosen by the Minister from a panel provided by VFBV under the requirements of the CFA Act.
The Act requires four volunteer nominees to ensure the CFA Board has strong
volunteer expertise, knowledge and an understanding of CFA volunteerism, as well as knowledge of, or experience in, commercial, technical, operational, legal or financial matters; as well as expertise in fire services, emergency management, land management or any other field relevant to the performance of the functions of the Authority.
The four new members, Hazel Clothier, Lynda Hamilton, Peter Shaw and Timothy Young, now have a statutory responsibility as CFA Board Members and do not have the role of representing VFBV, but we will ensure they have access to the best advice and feedback from our statewide network of volunteer representatives to support their
work.
VFBV’S NEXT STEPS
VFBV continues to work to ensure the now-complete CFA Board fully understands volunteers’ concerns, the ramifications of approving the EBA and ways in which those concerns can be resolved. It is important to repeat that none of our concerns are about the pay and conditions of paid firefighters.
We are working with Federal Government to ensure its intended legislation to change the Fair Work Act is effective in protecting volunteers from the effects of enterprise bargaining agreements.
VFBV will keep raising the issues with Members of Parliament, business and community leaders and the general public, and it is important that volunteers across the state continue local activities to support our push for a fair outcome.
You can see suggested local actions elsewhere on this page, including promoting our newly established Valuing Volunteers Support Fund that now accepts donations to support the work we are doing to protect, advocate and represent CFA volunteers.
The important message for volunteers now is that the final outcome on the EBA, and therefore the future of the volunteer based and fully integrated CFA, is by no means determined and we must continue to make sure our voices are heard at every opportunity and in every corner of the state.
