Daniel Andrews’ pact with United Firefighters Union all for nothing

PREMIER Daniel Andrews has drawn a line in the sand with the militant fire union, declaring the new MFB boss will stay in his role. It comes amid turbulent times for Labor, with MPs fearing the union could derail its election campaign.

UPDATE: Premier Daniel Andrews has drawn a line in the sand with the militant fire union, declaring the new MFB boss will stay in his role.

It comes as the Opposition asks the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission to investigate UFU secretary Peter Marshall’s claims of secret deals with the government.

The United Firefighters Union has launched a public campaign to remove newly appointed MFB boss Dan Stephens, who it say has a record as “union attack dog”.

But Mr Andrews said the former Merseyside Fire and Rescue chief was the best person for the role.

“The best person to lead the MFB has been chosen. There will be no change to that important decision,” he said.

MATT JOHNSTON: ANDREWS’ BIZARRE POLITICAL STOCKHOLM SYNDROME

Daniel Andrews campaigning with firefighters at the Collingwood Town Hall in 2014. Picture: Hamish Blair

“He is an outstanding candidate to lead that organisation and drive the cultural change that is necessary.”

Mr Andrews said who leads the MFB is a matter for its board and not the union.

He told reporters in Ballarat the only thing he would change in his government’s handling of the fire services was not granting a pair to two Liberal MPs for an important Good Friday vote on restructuring the CFA and MFB.

The two MPs Bernie Finn and Craig Ondarchie broke the pair deal and their votes defeated the fire services restructure Bill.

“If I could change something I’d perhaps change the fact we gave a pair to Mr Finn and Mr Ondarchie.”

“But you cant, you need to get on and get things done.”

Mr Andrews said he has not spoken to Mr Marshall since the unionist’s public dummy spit over the new MFB boss on Wednesday.

Mr Marshall threatened on radio to reveal “promises” made to the UFU by the government.

He also refused to answer questions about whether he had a secret tape of a conversation with Mr Andrews prior to the 2014 election.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said that Mr Marshall’s allegations of a secret deal should be probed by the corruption watchdog.

“We are pretty concerned about this,” he said.

“I have never seen anything like this before, where a union leader is literally holding the government to ransom and the government is pretty cagey in its answers.”

Mr Guy said the Premier’s “smirk” when answering questions on the drama yesterday “tells the story”.

EARLIER: LABOR is in turmoil over the sensational split between militant union boss Peter Marshall and Daniel Andrews, with MPs fearing the union could derail its election campaign.

State MPs say their leader never should have got into bed with the firebrand, who has got “everything he ever wanted” from the government.

It now leaves Victoria with massive cost blowouts, tens of thousands of angry volunteers, and a purging of CFA and MFB leaders.

Mr Andrews was on Thursday forced to reject assertions by Mr Marshall of a secret United Firefighters Union deal and “broken promises”, and denied suggestions the union secretary had a tape recording of conversations between them.

United Firefighters Union boss Peter Marshall. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Mr Marshall exploded on radio on Wednesday evening, suggesting he would spill the beans on secret conversations he had with Mr Andrews before the next election.

Labor is now divided on how to pick up the pieces from the latest mess.

“This was not the way to deal with this bloke, you can’t keep giving him everything,” one Labor MP said.

The best bet now was “just trying to contain” the union, after the government had already “bent over backwards for them”, a minister said.

Other senior ministers hoped the straightforward denials by the Premier would call Mr Marshall’s bluff, with one saying the “ball is in his court”.

Some MPs denied the lingering saga was causing more pain for the Premier. Others challenged the union to wage war against the government, with one minister saying: “What are they going to do, go to the Liberals?”

web UFU Danel Andrews 650 900

One MP said: “I think the culture change the MFB need is getting rid of Marshall.”

Firefighters campaigning for Labor in tightly held seats could now be detrimental to the party’s election hopes, the MP warned.

The UFU could also harm Labor by funding the Greens’ campaigns in the inner-city seats of Northcote, Brunswick and Richmond, he said.

The latest development in a three-year political soap opera came after Mr Marshall’s choice for a new MFB chief was rejected.

A decision by a government-appointed panel that UK firefighter Dan Stephens get the job was endorsed by the MFB and signed off by Emergency Services Minister James Merlino.

The Herald Sun can reveal a headhunting firm began an international search in February for the best candidate to take the reins at the MFB, which the government wants to restructure as Fire Rescue Victoria.

web UFU Daniel Andrews 650 600

Seven candidates were short-listed and three were ­interviewed by a six-person panel including interim chief executive Alex Cockram and president Jasmine Doak.

Once Mr Stephens’ name and credentials were supplied to Mr Merlino’s office, it took about two weeks for sign-off, with government figures keen to ensure the UK firefighter would work with the union and did not back fire services cuts.

Ms Doak said the MFB never agreed to consult Mr Marshall nor the UFU on candidates before the position was filled.

Mr Marshall remained silent on Thursday, other than to issue a bulletin to members urging them to send a pre-populated letter to all MPs “to let them know that a firefighter-slashing Chief should not interfere in the Victorian fire services”.

Mr Andrews said all the deals made between him and the UFU were public.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said: “I think the whole thing stinks”.

[e-mail]