By Peter Douglas
DANDENONG Ranges’ retailers were among those targeted in an online campaign designed to financially hurt those who support the VFBV (Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria).
Belgrave South Timber and Hardware, and an Upwey hair salon were among a handful of businesses to appear on a Facebook page that encouraged readers to “Spend your money elsewhere”.
The page administrator said the site was “supporting professional fire fighters and viable effective fire services in Victoria”.
The site read: “Spend your money elsewhere. This business supports the degradation of fire services in Victoria”.
But the page was pulled down on Thursday 20 October, not long after the ‘Mail’ sent through a media inquiry and after a metropolitan radio broadcaster conducted a segment on the Facebook page.
Before it was pulled down, the page had been up for less than two days, with the anonymous page administrator claiming an early victory.
“Wow, 119 likes in 12 hours!” one post read.
“Thanks for supporting professional firefighters and viable effective fire services in Victoria!
“Keep on sharing and submitting!”
The campaign comes amid a bitter dispute between the Victorian Government, the United Firefighters Union (UFU) and the CFA, which involves the enterprise bargaining agreement being put to CFA volunteers.
While representatives of Belgrave South Timber and Hardware were reluctant to comment on the Facebook page, they believed the site would not affect their business operations, given they’ve been at the location for many years and are well-entrenched within the community.
Meanwhile, Shadow Police Minister Ed O’Donohue told the ‘Mail’ the Facebook page was irresponsible.
“It’s terrible small businesses have been targeted in this way, just for supporting the CFA,” he said.
“Everyone in the hills understands how critical the CFA is to our ongoing safety.
“I’m calling on residents to support Belgrave South Timber and Hardware and all retailers who show support for volunteers.
“The CFA volunteers do a terrific job and we’re lucky to have them.”
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Brad Battin also expressed his disappointment.
“It is these types of pages and posts that are fuelling (Victorian Premier) Daniel Andrews’ war on firefighters; it is clear union bullies will stop at nothing to take control of the CFA,” he said.
“Daniel Andrews’ war on Victoria’s fire services has gone too far.
“It must be ended and the UFU must confirm no members of their union are using social media to bully small business and local communities for supporting volunteers.”
The Facebook page comes amid a flurry of political issues boiling over in an online environment.
Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy last week exposed some of the abuse she has endured online, through reading out comments that anti-vaccination campaigners had directed at her.
In addition, Yarra Ranges Council candidate Chelsea McNab last week vowed to press charges against a Facebook poster, after violent and abusive messages were posted about her online.
During the online tirade, two commenters posted that she should be kicked and sent to the Middle East and decapitated.
