Toxic CFA union dispute spreads to federal election campaign

THE toxic CFA union dispute has been inserted into the heart of the federal election campaign, with ALP strategists deeply concerned it will damage Labor’s chances at the July 2 poll.

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THE toxic CFA union dispute has been inserted into the heart of the federal election campaign, with ALP strategists deeply concerned it will damage Labor’s chances at the July 2 poll.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull used the dispute to highlight Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s union background, and warned there was a price to pay for doing political deals with “militant’’ unions.

Mr Shorten again tried unsuccessfully to distance himself from the brawl, saying it was a state matter — despite personally meeting United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall several weeks ago.

Several Labor sources told the Herald Sun there was unrest about the potential effect of the dispute.

“This is a disaster for Bill,’’ one Labor person said.

The price of the UFU support of Premier Daniel Andrews’s election campaign was revealed in an email Mr Marshall sent to Labor MPs.

Mr Shorten is driven along Treasury Place as media wait outside Mr Andrews Cabinet meeting. Picture Mark Stewart

In the email, Mr Marshall said the firefighters had spent 23 days doorknocking in key seats “campaigning hard against the Napthine government’’, handed out 125,000 pamphlets, protested outside 36 Liberal events, and 700 firefighters had handed out how-to-vote cards on polling day.

The email, written in about April last year, warns what could happen if Mr Andrews did not bow to the union’s demands.

“In the next federal election, there are marginal seats where firefighters could make a significant difference. They may again be engaged but the level and nature of support are yet to be determined,’’ Mr Marshall wrote.

“Given our disappointment in the Andrews Government, delegates will meet to consider our strategy — to determine if we are to be involved, whom we should support, and on what basis.”

Mr Turnbull used the dispute to argue for the Australian Building and Construction Commission to be re-established.

“The Labor Party will do anything to advance the interests of the militant trade unions to whom it is responsible,’’ he said.

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