Andrews government secretly restructures MFB through board

THE Andrews Government has embarked on a secret shake-up of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade as it quietly plans to restructure the state’s fire services.

• MFB, CFA still in the dark over fire services restructure
• MFB accuses UFU of causing conflict, distrust among its members
• United Firefighter’s Union put pressure on MFB
• Chief’s bombshell: Firestorm hits MFB over union deal

THE Andrews Government has embarked on a secret shake-up of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade as it quietly plans to restructure the state’s fire services.

The Herald Sun can reveal the government, which sacked the CFA board last June for failing to back a union-friendly EBA, has also managed to turn over two thirds of the MFB board without any public announcements.

Several board members have grown frustrated with pressure applied by the government to force them to cave to the United Firefighters Union’s extravagant industrial demands.

Two board members chose to leave late last year and another two have not had their positions renewed by the government this year.

Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Norm Oorloff.

Minister for Education James Merlino. Picture: Lawrence Pinder.

Only two replacements have been appointed, which sources believe is because of an imminent move to split the state’s fire services into separate volunteer and career firefighter organisations.

A restructure plan is likely to go to Cabinet as early as next week.

The lack of current MFB board members means four fifths of them must be present at meetings to make decisions, under quorum rules.

An MFB spokeswoman said “at all times the quorum of four members has been met”.

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino’s spokesman Matthew Dixon said board positions “are important roles and it takes time to ensure people with the best skills and experience are selected”.

“Work has been undertaken over recent months to consider candidates for the roles,” he said.

The Herald Sun revealed earlier this year that senior levels of government were pressuring the MFB to accept a similar deal to the controversial CFA agreement which chief executive Jim Higgins had publicly labelled “a recipe for disaster”.

But instead of risking further political damage by sacking the MFB board, the government secretly stripped away the brigade’s leadership.

Chartered accountant Jay Bonnington, who had served on the MFB board since 2006, chose not to stay, along with professional director Therese Ryan.

Deputy president Ken King, who was appointed in 2008, was recently let go by the government when his term expired.

It is understood David Purchase, who was the long-term boss of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, will also be moved on by the government when his term finishes soon.

That leaves president Dr Andi Diamond, the chief executive of the City of Monash, as well as chartered accountant Stuart Alford and experienced lawyer Kylie Hall.

Ms Hall was appointed by Mr Merlino on November 15 last year but no public announcement was made.

Monash Council CEO Andi Diamond. Picture: Janine Eastgate.

It is understood board members have also struggled to deal with UFU secretary Peter Marshall.

MFB chief fire officer Peter Rau quit last year because of the stress caused by the union’s bullying tactics, which is still being investigated by WorkSafe.

The union announced recently that it would lift work bans that had been in place because of the long brawl over a new MFB workplace deal.