Barrister slams Daniel Andrews over handling of CFA
The barrister who assisted the royal commission into the Black Saturday bushfires has hit out at Premier Daniel Andrews for trading on a “country boy” image while ripping apart the CFA.
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The barrister who assisted the royal commission into the Black Saturday bushfires has hit out at Premier Daniel Andrews for trading on a “country boy” image while ripping apart the CFA.
Jack Rush, QC, has launched a scathing criticism of Mr Andrews’ handling of the CFA and his plans to take paid firefighters out of the volunteer body and move them to a new service combined with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
In an opinion piece in today’s Herald Sun, Mr Rush accuses the Premier of surrendering “community safety to the self-interests of fire union bosses”.
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“I cannot help but be cynical when I see the Premier selling himself as a country boy, born and bred, a straight talker,” Mr Rush writes.
The extraordinary attack comes as The Weekly Times reports there has been a massive overtime and allowances blowout within the CFA.
CFA sources have claimed 600 United Firefighters Union members raked in an average $60,000 in overtime and allowances in 2017-18.
Within that group, 260 UFU firefighters managed to earn an average $225,000 each, once generous overtime penalties and allowances were added to their salaries, the paper reports today.
Mr Rush’s attack on Mr Andrews and details of the CFA pay blowout are a significant blow for Labor just three days out from the state election.
The ALP is desperate to stave off a strong campaign by sacked CFA board member and serving Sassafras brigade captain John Schurink in Monbulk, the seat of Emergency Services Minister James Merlino.
Labor’s CFA problem could also be damaging in marginal seats Eltham, which the ALP holds, and Liberal-held Ripon.
It is the second time Mr Rush has spoken about the damage done to the CFA, and also comes amid growing concerns about the tactics of the United Firefighters Union and its secretary Peter Marshall.
The union has continued to target former emergency services minister Jane Garrett, who resigned in 2016 rather than sign up to the union’s EBA demands, including in a bid to kill her preselection for state parliament.
The Victorian Trades Hall has demanded the Labor-aligned UFU stop the campaign. But the Herald Sun revealed last week the UFU had issued how-to-vote cards, calling on people to put Ms Garrett — Labor’s No. 1 candidate in the Eastern Victoria region — “last”.
The union withdrew the card after a rebuke from Mr Andrews over “bullying”, but Mr Marshall then said the union would continue to hold her accountable for the “damage” she had done to firefighters and their families.
Mr Rush’s comments echo those of the chairman of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, Supreme Court Justice Bernard Teague.
Justice Teague told the Herald Sun this month Mr Marshall’s only negotiating position was a takeover of the CFA and Mr Andrews was paying a price for his support of the UFU firebrand.
The CFA dispute was expected to be a factor among many regional Victorian voters, who have been concerned about the plans.
Victoria has been heading towards another significant fire threat, and the deadly fires in California have highlighted the dangers as the Black Saturday anniversary approaches.
Mr Andrews confirmed during his campaign he plans to take paid firefighters out of the CFA. Mr Marshall did not comment.
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