Matthew Guy promises fire services probe if Coalition wins

THE Coalition has promised a probe into Victoria’s fire services and ensuing industrial relations chaos if they win next year’s election.

Matthew Guy leader of the opposition arrives at state Parliament. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A ROYAL commission would probe Victoria’s fire services and the industrial relations chaos that has gripped them, if the Coalition wins next year’s state election.

The extraordinary legal inquiry will be promised by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy today, and he told the Herald Sun it would provide impartial advice on how to fix the CFA and MFB and help “protect those who protect us”.

Should the coalition win the election, a royal commission would be asked to look into the recent exodus and sackings of senior leaders in fire services, the creation of controversial workplace agreements, and the operational effectiveness of the CFA and MFB.

“There is widespread concern in the community that Victoria’s fire services are in a state of crisis which is putting people’s lives, homes and property at risk,” Mr Guy said.

“The outcome of this Royal Commission will be safer communities for all Victorians and a safer workplace for our tens of thousands of professional and volunteer firefighters.

“We will protect those who protect us.”

The inquiry, expected to cost around $10 million, and would be created a decade after a Royal Commission probed the state’s response to the Black Saturday bushfires that claimed 173 lives.

In recent years the CFA and MFB have been dogged by industrial relations warfare, political interference, and allegations of bullying and sexism.

The state’s equal opportunity and human rights watchdog was asked last year to probe diversity in the workplace, but the United Firefighters Union is trying to block its report being released.

Simmering tensions over new workplace agreements exploded last year, when Jane Garrett resigned as emergency services minister last year because of concerns about “unreasonable” demands from the UFU in new workplace agreements.
Premier Daniel Andrews stepped in to force through the union’s demands, but a new EBA was blocked by federal government legislation designed to protect volunteer firefighters.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. His legislation to create Fire Rescue Victoria has stalled in state parliament. Picture: AAP

Mr Andrews then tried to dismantle the CFA to create a new single body for paid firefighters called Fire Rescue Victoria, but his legislation has stalled in state parliament.
Concerns about UFU power within the fire services focus on so-called “veto” powers, which force fire chiefs to consult and then secure agreement from the union about a range of matters.

These EBA issues would be considered by the royal commission, including whether they “unreasonably impede the ability of the MFB and CFA to manage their respective fire services”.

All sackings and resignations related to the bitter battle waged in recent years will have to be probed.

Mr Guy said the power of the inquiry would set it apart from other efforts to “fix” fire services in Victoria.

“Only a Royal Commission, with the powers it possesses, will be capable of overcoming the obstacles that have thwarted so many earlier efforts at reform,” he said.

“There is a concern in the community that Daniel Andrews has politicised our fire services. A Royal Commission will take the politics out of our fire services and provide considered, impartial and objective recommendations to fix it to protect those who protect us.”