Black Saturday-hit town Marysville stands behind CFA against United Firefighters Union takeover

THE town of Marysville, which was ravaged on Black Saturday, has banded together to support the CFA as it faces a government-backed union takeover. JOIN OUR PETITION

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THE town of Marysville, which was ravaged on Black Saturday, has banded together to support the Country Fire Authority as it faces a government-backed union takeover.

It came as Premier Daniel Andrews, endorsed the proposed deal, saying all Victorians needed to respect the “balanced and fair” recommendations of the Fair Work Commission.

But the CFA remained defiant over the deal, which gives the United Firefighters Union the vast majority of their claims.

Following a crisis meeting of the CFA board, acting CFA chief executive Joe Buffone said the board was “seriously concerned” the proposals would hurt volunteers and hand the union veto powers over management decisions.

Marysville Patisserie owner Ashraf Doos said: “We say to the government, do not betray us — the CFA is working so why fix it? The volunteers have been through hell and they do their best so they just don’t need this situation.”

Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett, who has been sidelined from the negotiations by Mr Andrews, stayed silent.

Marysville residents are angry at the government-backed takeover. Picture: Alex Coppel

Fire engulfing a Marysville property. Picture: Supplied

The devastation left by the bushfires in Marysville.

The apparent endorsements of the deal from Mr Andrews and Acting Premier James Merlino will put pressure on Ms Garrett to fall into line and back the deal.

Ms Garrett’s allies said they were still hopeful to avoid a formal government approval for the deal. The bitter dispute, which has divided the State Government, now risks affecting Labor’s chances in the coming federal election.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy accused Fair Work Commissioner Julius Roe of being “biased” in his handling of the dispute.

He said Mr Andrews had “rocks in his head” if he thought Mr Roe’s decision to back the bulk of the union’s claims was fair.

“Playing politics with volunteer firefighters is outrageous for a Premier who wants to simply hand control of the CFA to a group of people who got him into power,” Mr Guy said.

Mr Andrews said the dispute had “gone on for far too long” but that “it’s very important that we don’t jump to any conclusions”.

“The government will consider in great detail the findings that the independent umpire have given to us and we’ll look for an outcome that fairly rewards our paid firefighters, our career firefighters and properly respects the volunteers that make our fire services work,” he said.

Mr Buffone said the CFA board would meet again soon and wanted to talk to the State Government about the ­“operational and financial ­impacts” of the proposed deal.

“The board remains seriously concerned about the implications these recommendations would have on the organisation,” Mr Buffone said.

Mr Merlino told the ABC that there was “no veto power” for the union in Fair Work’s recommended deal.

United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said that volunteers would not be affected by the proposed deal.

Marysville locals say they would feel betrayed if the move went ahead. Picture: Alex Coppel

Black Saturday survivors feel betrayed by deal

ANGRY Marysville residents who lost their homes on Black Saturday have hit out at the Andrews Government over the Country Fire Authority union deal crisis.

Locals in the town, which lost 45 people in the devas­tating bushfire of February 2009, said they would feel “betrayed” if the United Firefighters Union won its bid for power over the CFA.

They fear that if the government adopts the rec­om­mendations of the union, their fire-prone community won’t be properly protected.

More than 20 residents gathered in a show of support against the union’s bid for a CFA takeover.

Ashraf Doos, owner of Marysville Patisserie, which was destroyed in the fires but has since reopened, spoke alongside his wife, Christine, saying the union should “leave the CFA alone”.

“We are so proud of what the CFA does and how it operates as it is,” he said. “We say to the government, do not betray us — the CFA is working, so why fix it?

“The volunteers have been through hell and they do their best so they just don’t need this situation.”

The Acheron CFA crew on a break from battling the Marysville Black Saturday blaze.

Mr Doos said the CFA was part of the community, which was integral to rebuilding the town which lost 90 per cent of its buildings seven years ago.

“The community is very strong here, it’s like a family and the CFA is part of that family because the volunteers live among us,” he said.

CFA bosses say there is no way they will accept the deal being pushed by Premier Daniel Andrews.

There are fears the issue could split Cabinet, with Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett against the deal.

Most concerning, residents said, was the recommendation that there would have to be seven paid professional firefighters on a fire scene.

Firefighters battling the blaze at Dederang near Marysville. Picture: Karen Randall

Norman Fiske, 67, who lost his three-bedroom home in the 2009 disaster, told how there was a house fire last week in the town which was only put out quickly because volunteers were able to rush to the scene.

“If we would have had to wait for paid firefighters to arrive, the whole house would have gone,” he said.

“But as it was there was only minimal damage thanks to the volunteers rushing there.”

Volunteers also help with fallen trees and car accidents, Mr Fiske added.

On Black Saturday, Sharon and Terry Donovan lost their Dalrymples accommodation business, including two houses and six guest cottages.

“We feel the CFA is being railroaded and may become a lapdog to the union,” Mr Donovan said.

“What is happening is an insult to these special people.”

- Lucie Morris-Marr

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