CFA’s future in crossbenchers’ hands

A STATE MP with a critical vote on the future of the CFA says he is 100 per cent behind the country brigade and will act in its best interests.

Vote 1 Local Jobs MP James Purcell says the CFA is a crucial part of country Victoria.

A STATE MP with a critical vote on the future of the CFA says he is 100 per cent behind the country brigade.

Vote 1 Local Jobs MP James Purcell has publicly declared that the CFA is a “crucial component of rural Victoria” and that he will act in its best interests.

The Herald Sun has learnt new laws to dismantle the CFA will be introduced to parliament this week as Labor scrambles to get support for the radical change.

Premier Daniel Andrews revealed last week he wanted to split the fire services into a volunteer-only CFA and create a new Fire Rescue Victoria that would take all paid firefighters from the CFA and MFB. The changes are not guaranteed to get through the parliament’s Upper House, where minor party and ­independent MPs are likely to play kingmakers.

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With the legislation expected to be introduced this week, it is understood crossbench MPs are to be briefed on the government’s proposal in the coming days.

Sex Party MP Fiona Patten said she was not ideologically opposed to the split, but would have to be convinced the plan would protect volunteers in northern Victoria.

Greens emergency services spokeswoman Colleen Hartland welcomed the government’s commitment to intro­duce presumptive legislation for firefighters, but did not comment on the restructure.

If the Greens and Ms Patten back the proposal, the ­government would need to sec­ure only one more crossbench MP for the legislation to pass the Upper House.

But Mr Purcell said: “I need to look at legislation before I can make a decision on if I support it. The CFA is a crucial component of rural Victoria and I will support what is in the best interests of the CFA.”

Democratic Labour Party MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins said the government would need to persuade her that it was necessary to split the CFA.

“My initial thought is that it seems reactionary and done without any proper consultation. Once again, the volunteers are being ignored.”

Ms Carling-Jenkins said she had not been given any further details about the plan.

“I’m as much in the dark about this as the (CFA) volunteers,” she said.

Daniel Young, from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, said he was disappointed the government had not briefed his party.

“We won’t do anything that puts in jeopardy the CFA or the services it provides for Victoria,” he said.

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