CFA union dispute: Malcolm Turnbull urges Daniel Andrews to drop United Firefighters Union support

THE Federal Government is considering legislation to protect the CFA as the row over a United Firefighters Union power grab spills into the federal election campaign.

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THE Federal Government is considering legislation to protect the Country Fire Authority from a union takeover, as the row over a power grab by the United Firefighters Union spills into the federal election campaign.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last night wrote to Premier Daniel Andrews urging him to reconsider his support of the proposed UFU takeover, warning it would undermine the CFA.

“The effective subordination of the CFA volunteers to the members of the UFU runs a grave risk of seriously demoralising and demotivating the volunteers,’’ Mr Turnbull wrote.

“The board of the CFA, the organisation representing CFA volunteers and the ­Victorian Minister for Emergency Services have all ­expressed their strong opposition to the UFU’s proposed agreement.

“I urge you to heed their views and experience and withdraw your support for this proposed agreement that effectively grants the union a privileged position over the volunteers who risk their health and lives in the defence of their fellow Victorians and Australians.’’

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash is flying to Melbourne today to meet CFA volunteers as the Federal Government considers what options is has to block the UFU’s takeover.

Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Hamish Blair

“The Federal Government is urgently looking at what powers it may have to prevent the CFA being destroyed by a union takeover,’’ Senator Cash told the Herald Sun.

“A union takeover of the CFA would pose a grave risk to the safety of thousands of Victorians who rely on CFA volunteers to protect them.’’

As the issue broke into the federal election campaign, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten sought to distance himself from the row yesterday by describing it as a state issue. This came despite him meeting both Mr Andrews and UFU secretary Peter Marshall and discussing the proposed takeover.

Federal Labor is becoming increasingly nervous that the row will see some of the 60,000 CFA volunteers incensed by the proposed union takeover turn their attention to the July 2 election.