Leaked CFA annual report reveals bulging budget, falling volunteer numbers

A leaked copy of the Country Fire Authority’s annual report has revealed their wage bill has soared by a whopping $100 million in just three years, while its volunteer workforce continues to shrink ahead of their move to become a volunteer-only service.

The Country Fire Authority’s wage bill has soared by $100 million in just three years as its volunteer workforce continues to shrink.

A leaked copy of the CFA’s 2019 annual report reveals the authority’s annual salary costs have reached $319 million, up from $288 million on the previous year.

The sharp increase has been pinned on new enterprise bargaining arrangements — including pay and allowance boosts — and the hiring of more full-time firefighters.

The Herald Sun can also ­reveal the CFA has again missed its volunteer targets, with 34,380 Victorians now giving up their time to fight fires, the fewest since 2006.

The CFA aims to have at least 39,400 volunteer firefighters.

CFA crews respond to the Rosedale bushfire last summer. Picture: Mark Stewart

A copy of this year’s CFA staff satisfaction survey, also obtained by the Herald Sun, shows 22 per cent of ­employees experienced bullying and 14 per cent faced sexual harassment.

While those results were an improvement on last year, three out of 10 workers said they did not intend to stay at the CFA. Only 59 per cent were satisfied with their jobs.

From next year, the CFA will become a volunteer-only service. All paid firefighters will move into the new Fire Rescue Victoria agency.

In the annual report, CFA chairman Greg Smith said the restructure presented ­“exciting opportunities and challenges”.

“As we move to become a stronger, volunteer-focused organisation, our focus will be on supporting volunteerism through improved training, enhanced leadership and ­attracting new members to CFA,” he wrote.

The “People Matter” survey found a high level of dissatisfaction with CFA leadership.

Just 38 per cent of the 600 staff who completed the survey backed leadership efforts to provide clear strategy and direction. Only 39 per cent felt supported to work in an “environment of change”, with the fire services restructure highlighted as a key issue.

CFA crews dealt with 47,817 incidents last year.

The survey results show the CFA recorded a negative “psychosocial safety climate score”, which indicated a “high risk” of issues including bullying and harassment, poor work equality and mental health problems.

In 2016, the CFA spent $219 million on pay and entitlements, and had 1086 paid firefighters and 967 support staff on its books

Staff numbers have since surged by 35 per cent, with 1371 career firefighters and 1401 support staff — 1056 of whom are permanent — now employed by the CFA.

With wages also increasing rapidly over that time, the CFA’s annual operating costs have now topped $635 million, compared with $589 million the year before.

The report also shows the CFA dealt with 47,817 incidents last year, including a series of shocking summer bushfires.

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A blaze in Rosedale caused $22 million in damage to plantations while 38 properties were destroyed by a fire in ­Little River. Another 29 houses and 67 outbuildings were lost in the Bunyip State Park bushfire in March.

The CFA responded to 87 per cent of structural fires and 83 per cent of road accident rescues within benchmark times — below its 90 per cent target.

Mr Smith also wrote that a new integrity framework had been introduced, with an independent review commissioned to overhaul “longstanding concerns” about the CFA’s complaint handling system.

The annual report is expected to be tabled in state parliament this year.

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