United Firefighters Union of Australia Victoria branch butts heads with CFA, MFES board in VCAT

THE VICTORIAN branch of the United Firefighters Union of Australia has butted heads with the CFA and the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board in VCAT over access to official documents.

THE Victorian branch of the UFU of Australia has butted heads with the CFA and the MFES board in VCAT. Generic picture

THE VICTORIAN branch of the United Firefighters Union of Australia butted heads with the CFA and the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board in VCAT on Thursday over access to official documents.

Early last year, the union put forward a FOI request to gain access to over 200 files. Only a portion of the files has been released.

Few details were made available as the matter was only a directional hearing, which VCAT Acting Deputy President Ian Proctor said was an attempt to bring the matter forward after several delays.

Mr Proctor described the hearing as an “ageing matter” and was critical of both sides in their approach to the hearing.

“In my mind, this matter could have been viewed at the originally proposed dates,” he said.

Both sides requested payment for costs after directional hearings were delayed over the holiday period.

Mr Proctor denied all requests, saying communication between the parties at times was “dogmatic” and both the union and the fire agencies had both taken steps which caused delays.

The matter will resume April 13.