CFA dispute: Daniel Andrews is burning all bridges
JOE Buffone has worked in emergency services for decades. On Thursday, Dan Andrews, who hasn’t had any sort of job outside politics, was nowhere to be seen, writes James Campbell.
James Campbell
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- Federal election panic erupts within Labor
- Email reveals Dan’s secret CFA side deal
- Outgoing CFA chief ‘absolutely gutted’
- CFA volunteer convoy sends message to Daniel Andrews
JOE Buffone has worked in emergency services for more than 25 years, including 15 as a CFA volunteer.
Last year he was appointed the chief officer of the CFA. Before that he was the deputy emergency management commissioner with Emergency Management Victoria.
In 2015 he volunteered to go to Nepal and provide disaster planning advice to the Nepalese Government in the aftermath of that country’s devastating earthquake. Before his career in emergency services he spent several years in the SAS.
Daniel Andrews’s first job after university was as an electorate officer. He then became an ALP organiser, then assistant state secretary, before arriving in parliament at the age of 30. On Thursday, this man who has never had any sort of job at all outside politics, was nowhere to be seen.
Instead his deputy, James Merlino, was sent out of the cameras to slime Buffone. His crime? To have resigned rather than stand idly by while the United Firefighters Union takes control of the CFA.
To comprehend the anger against him you need to understand that in the last sitting week of parliament, the Premier’s leadership team had briefed nervous Labor MPs that Buffone was the man who would sell the deal to the public.
Now he had walked away. Just as Jane Garrett has walked away. Just as Lucinda Nolan has walked away — following the board of the CFA out the door rather than sign on to something they believe to be wrong. For this, Buffone’s reputation had to be destroyed.
To this end, Merlino released an email in which Buffone’s lawyer said his client would withdraw his resignation in return for three conditions being met — equal status and pay with the CFA CEO and an agreement he would be given 12 months’ pay if he leaves before his five-year contract is up.
It read badly. But not if you know that raising the chief officer’s status was a recommendation of Labor’s Fire Services Review as well as the Black Saturday Royal Commission.
Buffone believed that unless this was done his job would be impossible once the UFU’s power is increased under this EBA.
Merlino said this was evidence he was “prepared to implement the agreement if he was given more money and more power”. It was a disgusting smear against a man who has given more service to this country than Merlino and Andrews between them could hope to give if they live to 100. But it was not surprising.
This is how we are governed in Victoria now. As more than one Labor figure has said to me in recent weeks: “It’s a gangster government.”
The only way that is going to change is if the members of Labor’s caucus understand the Premier is leading them over a cliff.
Tomorrow, Victorians have their chance to send state Labor MPs this message at a federal ballot box; your boss has gone too far.
READ MORE:
EMAIL REVEALS DAN’S SECRET CFA SIDE DEAL
CFA VOLUNTEER ARMY TO DESCEND ON ELECTION POLLING BOOTHS
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