Overtime cost blowout sees MFB, CFA firefighters paid more than $80 million for extra shifts

The spiralling overtime bill for Victoria’s fire services has doubled in a year. But only $3.6 million in overtime payments stemmed from “major incidents” at Tottenham, Campbellfield and Gippsland.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade’s overtime bill has doubled in a year as more than $80 million is paid out to firefighters for extra shifts across the state.

In an alarming budget blowout, the MFB coughed up $39.2 million in overtime payments over the last 12 months, up from $20.4 million the year before.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the CFA has also let its overtime spending spiral to $42.2 million, which is $10.6 million more than the previous year.

Fire services sources say the dramatic increase has been a point of concern within the agencies.

The MFB’s overtime costs hovered around $20 million for three years before doubling over the last financial year.

Fire crews respond to a factory fire in Campbellfield. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The revelations come as the MFB deals with the departure of chief officer Dan Stephens after only a year in the job.

While the brigade has dealt with a series of complex fires in recent months, a parliamentary committee has been told only $3.6 million in overtime payments stemmed from “major incidents at Tottenham, Campbellfield and Gippsland”.

The MFB recorded an $8.9 million deficit in 2018 but its final budgetary position for 2019 has not yet been revealed.

An MFB spokeswoman said firefighters responded to more than 37,000 emergency call-outs over the last 12 months, with recycling and chemical fires requiring “a significant number of resources”.

“Increased minimum crewing levels and enhanced emergency training have also been a contributing factor,” she said.

“These initiatives will improve safety and ensure there are more firefighters on trucks, delivering the best possible outcomes for the community.”

She said the MFB was focused on the sustainability of its financial performance.

CFA deputy chief officer Garry Cook said last summer’s bushfires had added to the authority’s overtime bill as firefighters were moved around the state.

“Appropriate ratios of firefighters and officers to meet service delivery needs are always being reviewed and will continue to form part of the CFA workforce management planning processes,” he said.

CONCERN OVER SPIKE IN BRIGADE OVERTIME COSTS

MFB CHIEF QUITS AFTER ONLY A YEAR IN THE JOB

But Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin blamed the state government for the budget blowout because Labor had continually backed the United Firefighters Union’s pay and industrial demands.

“Daniel Andrews’ pay-off to the United Firefighters Union is costing tens of millions of dollars, money that should be used for new trucks and stations to make our community safer,” Mr Battin said.

“When we have 30-year-old trucks that break down and stations needing urgent repairs, Daniel Andrews needs to put safety first, not pay back his union mates.”

@tminear