CFA union dispute: Emergency Services Commissioner brought in to oversee CFA deal

EMERGENCY Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley has been brought in to oversee any deal on the CFA pay dispute as fireys prepare to rally.

EMERGENCY Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley has been brought in to oversee any deal on the CFA pay dispute between the Andrews Government and the United Firefighters Union.

The 11th-hour appointment is hoped to be a circuit breaker on the issue after the Andrews Government was thrown into crisis, with Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett considering quitting cabinet if the proposed deal is signed.

Acting Premier James Merlino said the growing concerns that 60,000 volunteers could be affected in the looming deal prompted the unprecedented appointment.

“Fair Work has made it clear that the role of volunteers must not and will not be affected by any future agreement,’’ he said.

“Commissioner Lapsley will work with all parties to ensure that this is the case.”

But a source familiar with the talks said it was “a last-minute attempt to sugar-coat a grossly unfair and, if signed, legally enforceable agreement.’

“We don’t need an implementation plan — we need a fair agreement that protects both paid and volunteer firefighters,” the source said.

Victorian Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley.

Mr Lapsley said he would work with all parties to ensure volunteers were not affected.

The move came hours before enraged firefighters and their families were expected to gather at Treasury Gardens in a mass protest against Premier Daniel Andrews signing a draft deal with the UFU, which was backed by the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday.

“It is now time to take a stand,’’ said a statement by Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria executive officer Adam Barnett.

“Volunteers and our communities have been deprived of a voice and the Premier’s process has failed volunteers and the communities we protect.’’

The rally will be a strong warning to Mr Andrews, who returns from his eight-day US tour early tomorrow morning.

In the bid to end tension within the government, a secret cabinet subcommittee met on Friday to discuss accepting a proposed deal, which is believed to have ended with ministers deeply divided.

The pending deal has also concerned the Federal Government, spurring employment minister Michaelia Cash to fly down for an emergency meeting with the CFA yesterday afternoon.

Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin urged the Premier to listen to the community.

“Today thousands of volunteers and their families will stand united with one message, keep your hands off our CFA,’’ he said.

UFU secretary Peter Marshall would not comment on the rally but urged everyone to read the Fair Work recommendations.

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