Questions raised over CFA’s $150,000 deal with Rugby Victoria

THE Country Fire Authority is giving away $150,000 of taxpayers’ money to Rugby Victoria, without a written agreement, which insiders say should be the subject of an external investigation.

EXCLUSIVE: THE Country Fire Authority is giving away $150,000 of taxpayers’ money to Rugby Victoria in a bizarre deal that insiders say should be the subject of an external investigation.

The Herald Sun can reveal the CFA decided to hand over $50,000 a year for three years to the rugby governing body, without a written agreement, in an effort to “promote diversity and inclusion”.

It is believed CFA people and culture executive director Liz Radcliffe — who is also a director of Rugby Victoria — was instrumental in orchestrating the unusual arrangement.

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The CFA refused to answer questions about Ms Radcliffe’s involvement, other than to say she had declared her conflict and recused herself from discussions about the proposal.

A CFA spokeswoman said the authority was “approached by Rugby Victoria (Women’s) to be a strategic partner through a sponsorship” promoting women’s sport and wellbeing.

But the Herald Sun understands Ms Radcliffe discussed the idea internally even before Rugby Victoria contacted the CFA to float its proposal.

CFA people and culture executive director Liz Radcliffe (left) with CFA deputy chief officer Steph Rotarangi. Picture: CFA

Asked to explain Ms Radcliffe’s involvement, the CFA spokeswoman said: “CFA is actively looking for opportunities to partner with grassroots sporting teams and organisations.”

The partnership was quietly announced in July — with no mention of the money involved — by CFA chief Paul Smith, who said it would help deliver fire safety messages to “people from a wider range of backgrounds”.

“CFA and Rugby Victoria have a strong alignment of values and both organisations are committed to embracing and encouraging diversity and inclusion,” Mr Smith said.

The CFA spokeswoman said the arrangement was “not dissimilar to other ongoing local partnerships” but did not answer questions from the Herald Sun about what other organisations were receiving public money from the CFA.

The $50,000 payment will be subject to annual review after Rugby Victoria’s proposal was approved by the CFA board.

CFA and Rugby Victoria announce formal partnership. CFA people and culture executive director Liz Radcliffe pictured second from right. Picture: CFA

Ms Radcliffe, an engineer, joined the CFA last March and became people and culture executive director in December, a month after she joined the Rugby Victoria board.

She has played rugby around the world for years and represented Victoria, describing herself as a “passionate follower of the game”.

Rugby Victoria general manager Chris Evans did not respond to calls from the Herald Sun.

In the July media release, he described it as a “momentous partnership” and celebrated the CFA’s “natural synergies to our own strategic values”.

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