Fire service reforms will enhance or destroy the CFA, depending on who you listen to.
The Legislative Council, the state’s Upper House, passed the controversial Fire Services (Reform) Bill on Thursday 20 June.
The new arrangements will be in place for the 2020-‘21 fire season.
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) CEO Adam Barnett said in a statement that many CFA volunteers would be incredibly disappointed by this outcome.
“And while many will go to bed tonight feeling betrayed and broken-hearted, all of them should sleep with a clear conscience,” he said.
“They have articulated their concerns, they have diligently put on public record their expert advice and analysis, and they have shared their vast knowledge and experience in warning of the dangers and unintended consequences that accompany such rash and ill-conceived arrangements to our fire services as those proposed in this Bill.”
Mr Barnett said they would now do their best to implement and work with what they had been given.
“They will work tirelessly to try and limit the potential damage of the changes, as well as continuing to seek real and practical improvements to such important areas such as operational training, safety, infrastructure and culture,” he said.
But Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said the reforms were long overdue, and systems and structures had not changed since the 1950s.
“As our environment changes, the challenges around fire are becoming greater,” she said.
“We took to the last election our plan to deliver a modern fire service for all Victorians and now, we’ve put this before the Parliament.”
Ms Neville said the reforms created a new agency, Fire Rescue Victoria, for all paid firefighters.
“FRV will lead firefighting in Melbourne and major regional centres from a network of stations that will be staffed by career firefighters – 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” she said.
“CFA volunteers currently serving at one of the state’s 38 career and integrated stations will be able to remain at that station if they choose, co-locating with Fire Rescue Victoria services under the new and necessary altered boundaries.
“Our 1220 volunteer CFA brigades will be untouched, continuing to serve their communities day-to-day as they have always done and will still provide vital surge capacity during major emergencies.”
She said CFA volunteers were the best people to make decisions on behalf of their communities during times of emergency and “we’re going to make sure nothing gets in the way of this and that all volunteers have our full support to do what they do best”.
Ms Neville said the reforms included new laws to make sure eligible firefighters claiming compensation wouldn’t have to prove that firefighting was the cause of their cancer.
Emergency Services Minister and Gembrook MP Brad Battin said the State Government forced the reforms through parliament without adequate community consultation.
“The bill disrespects volunteers and threatens our community safety in future fire seasons,” he said.
“The Liberal National party strongly opposed these changes, and we commit to always putting community safety first.”
