By JESSE GRAHAM
HEALESVILLE firefighters have slammed a controversial deal that could strip volunteers of their power, with the Victorian Government re-assessing an enterprise bargaining agreement after a week of protests.
Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett announced on Monday 6 June that she, Premier Daniel Andrews and Industrial Relations Minister Natalie Hutchins were “working closely together” to resolve issues with an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement for the CFA after a week of protests by volunteer firefighters.
The agreement has been the subject of intense debate over the last week, with volunteers expressing concerns that its clauses would disenfranchise them and strip them of their power to fight fires without paid firefighters present.
Healesville CFA volunteer George Trumble told the Mail last week that the EBA contained a clause that seven paid firefighters had to be present at a fire-ground before any action was taken to extinguish it.
“If there’s a fire in Healesville, we have to wait until they come up from probably Ringwood … before we can do anything,” he said.
“By that time, the house would be burnt to the ground – and there could be people trapped in the house.
“Whereas, at the moment, we can go in there, we can get people out, and we can fight the fire – we’re trained firefighters.”
He said that if the agreement went ahead, volunteer firefighters could not be in charge of paid firefighters, meaning local incident controllers would be overruled by a paid officer.
“Let’s say the Memo Hall is on fire – I ask for an aerial appliance to come up,” Mr Trumble said.
“That aerial appliance, like we had at French’s (Laundry fire in 2012), is staffed by permanent staff.
“I’m the officer in charge of the fire when they get here, (but) they won’t listen to me because I’m a vol.”
Mr Trumble, along with fellow firefighter Ken Glenn, visited Healesville Walk Shopping Centre on Thursday last week with petitions against the proposed EBA with Eildon MP Cindy McLeish.
Ms McLeish said the EBA would hand over the CFA to the United Firefighters Union, and that the demands in the EBA, such as the ‘seven on the fire ground’ rule, would not work in areas like the Yarra Valley.
“The demands, they’re not practical when you get further out of the city,” she said.
“And, already, we see a differentiation of the treatment of the volunteers and the career firefighters.
“CFAs grew out of small communities and volunteerism – people helping each other – and now that’s all being pushed.”
Ms Garret said the government “will continue to work on resolving outstanding issues with the EBA”.
“The government is undertaking further work around the Fair Work Commission’s recommendation, particularly relating to the ‘seven on the fire ground’, consultation and dispute resolution, and diversity issues,” she said.
She said Mr Lapsley would oversee the implementation of any final agreement, “with a key focus on ensuring the role of volunteers is protected”.
The EBA was recommended to the government by Fair Work Australia, but the CFA refused to sign, with acting chair John Peberdy citing a number of issues with the agreement.
An outcome is expected in the coming days.
