Victorian state election 2018: Coalition to fast-track presumptive rights for firefighter cancer sufferers
LAWS to give firefighters presumptive rights for cancer compensation will be fast-tracked if Victoria elects a Coalition government.
Victoria State Election
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria State Election. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LAWS to give firefighters presumptive rights for cancer compensation will be fast-tracked under a state Coalition government.
The Opposition announced on Saturday that it would introduce a Bill to Victorian parliament in the first sitting week of 2019, if elected next month.
The Bill would give career and volunteer firefighters access to presumptive compensation in relation to 12 specific diseases if it was likely they were made ill in the course of their job.
UFU MEMBER CHALLENGES EX-MINISTER’S LABOR PRESELECTION
QUESTIONS RAISED OVER CFA’S RUGBY VICTORIA DEAL
MFB, CFA FALL SHORT ON PLAN TO INCREASE FEMALE FIREYS
Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin said presumptive rights were “the biggest issue for firefighters”.
He said the Andrews Government had failed to introduce the legislation within 100 days, as promised ahead of the 2014 election.
“It’s about time we pay volunteers with respect and make sure they are protected in the future,” Mr Battin said.
“If they get cancer protecting us, they want to make sure the government’s there to back them up.
“They’ve been calling on Daniel Andrews to do this for four years and all he has done is attach it to legislation to tear apart the organisation they love.”
A bitter battle over Victoria’s first services has plagued the Andrews Government throughout this term.
The crisis claimed the scalp of former emergency services minister Jane Garrett, saw the CFA board sacked and a number of senior resignations at the MFB.
The government tied compensation rights to controversial changes to restructure and dismantle the CFA.
The bill was eventually voted down in parliament when, in a stunning break of tradition, Liberal MPs Bernie Finn and Craig Ondarchie reneged on a “pairing” deal.
The duo had asked to be excused from parliament because the marathon debate had dragged on into Good Friday, a sacred day for their Christian faith.
After two Labor MPs agreed to abstain from the vote and left parliament, the two reappeared to help the Coalition vote down the bill.
A Labor spokesman said when the Coalition was in government it slashed $66 million for the fire services and “denied the link between cancer and firefighting”.
“It was Labor that tried to legislate to give our firefighters the overdue cancer rights they deserve, but the Liberals disgraced themselves by lying about religion to vote it down,” he said.
“Matthew Guy and the Liberals are no friends of firefighters and should be ashamed of themselves for refusing to give them these rights — rights that would already be in place had they not trashed parliamentary convention.”
STATE ELECTION NEWS:
STATE ELECTION 2018: WHERE POLL WILL BE WON
Libs retain Ripon after thriller re-count
The Liberals appear to have held on to their most marginal seat — but only just. This is how many votes separated MP Louise Stalety and Labor candidate Sarah De Santis.
O’Brien set to lead shattered Liberals
Former state treasurer Michael O’Brien appears set to take leadership of the Victorian Liberals. It comes after a 71-year-old retired naval officer who has never learnt to drive ended the leadership hopes of John Pesutto.