James Merlino says former CFA board sacked for being ‘unwilling to end dispute’

EMERGENCY Services Minister James Merlino says the former CFA board was sacked after saying it was “unwilling to end the dispute” with firefighters over a new pay deal.

• Merlino ordered to turn out documents related to new board appointments
• CFA EBA was ‘destructive and divisive’: Lucinda Nolan
• Premier will be absent for CFA trial

EMERGENCY Services Minister James Merlino says the former CFA board was sacked after saying it was “unwilling to end the dispute” with firefighters over a new pay deal.

Mr Merlino told State Parliament he did not coerce the former board members or former chief executive Lucinda Nolan, who stood down from her role in June over the saga.

The Monbulk MP said he asked the board whether it would back Cabinet’s position, which was to wave through the deal despite concerns about veto provisions and the impact of the deal on volunteers.

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino. Picture: Andrew Tauber

“The acting chair came back to me and quite clearly said that the board were unwilling to end the dispute,” he said.

A Supreme Court case into the legality of the proposed EBA will be held next month.

MERLINO ORDERED TO TURN OUT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO NEW BOARD APPOINTMENTS

CFA EBA WAS ‘DESTRUCTIVE AND DIVISIVE’: LUCINDA NOLAN

PREMIER WILL BE ABSENT FOR CFA TRIAL