Commission calls for swift appeal process in fire services storm

VICTORIA’S equal opportunity commission wants the courts to speed up a hearing on its landmark fire services probe, as the report’s participants become “increasingly agitated” at the delay.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission conducted a sweeping review of the CFA and MFB that looked at diversity, bullying and sexism.

THE state’s equal opportunity commission has formally asked the Court of Appeal to expedite a hearing on its landmark fire services probe.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has conducted a sweeping review of the CFA and MFB that looked at diversity, bullying and sexism.

But in an extraordinary ­intervention, the United Firefighters Union launched a ­Supreme Court bid to block the report being released, arguing it went beyond the commission’s statutory powers.

The Supreme Court dismissed that bid in December, but the union has appealed.

Some of the participants in the review are growing increasingly agitated about ongoing delays, and have contacted the commission.

In response, they have been offered support services if experiencing distress.

Late last week, the commission lodged an application for the Court of Appeal to “hear the legal proceeding as quickly as possible”.

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Kristen Hilton, commissioner of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

A spokeswoman for the commission said it had made the application “because we want to release the report as soon as possible”.

It is almost two years since the Andrews Government asked the commission to review the culture of the MFB and CFA and to “make recommendations on strategies and plans that will lead to a better working environment”.

Last year, the Herald Sun revealed the review had been told of sexism and drunkenness in some Victorian brigades, of porn being on display, and of bizarre hazing rituals.

There had been a push to release the VEOHRC review before a proposed restructure of fire services in Victoria, which has now been shelved because laws failed to pass State Parliament.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: AAP

There is also pressure on the Andrews Government to take into account the findings when looking at equal opportunity and diversity measures in proposed new workplace agreements for the MFB and CFA.

The process to sign a new MFB agreement was thrown into disarray last week after the UFU claimed a new explanatory memorandum lawyers insisted accompany the EBA would give the chief fire officer “unfettered control” over rostering and work conditions.