Victorian CFA crisis: Liberal Party hits key seats with ads connecting issue to federal Labor

THE Liberals are bombarding key seats with advertising material linking the Victorian CFA crisis to the federal Labor Party.

The Andrews Government stance on the CFA has sparked statewide anger in regions such as Warrnambool. Picture: Paul Moloney

THE Liberals are bombarding key seats with advertising material linking the Victorian CFA crisis to the federal Labor Party.

Advertising material being distributed by the Liberal party at pre-polling centres.

Early voting ahead of the July 2 poll opened yesterday across Australia, with queues forming at some centres as voters rushed to cast an early vote after more than five weeks of the formal campaign.

In Victorian seats, voters at the pre-poll centres were confronted with posters and advertising material reminding them of the crisis engulfing the Country Fire Authority, where the 60,000 strong army of volunteers is in uproar over Premier Daniel Andrews’ determination to allow a union takeover of the CFA.

“Hands off the CFA. Send Labor a message,’’ the advertising, approved by Victorian Liberal state director Simon Frost, reads.

The advertising will be plastered over electorates with a high concentration of CFA volunteers and a relatively tight margin, including the Liberal seats of Corangamite and La Trobe, and the Labor seats of McEwen and Bendigo.

Federal Labor strategists are furious Mr Andrews escalated the fight in the final weeks before the election, with Opposition leader Bill Shorten desperate to distance himself from what he calls a “state issue.’’

The Liberals are reminding voters about the CFA issue when they vote. Picture: Paul Moloney

MORE:

CFA LAUNCHES ELECTION BLITZ AGAINST LABOR

CFA VOLUNTEERS READY TO WAGE WAR IN UNION OFFENSIVE

HEAD OF CFA VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION PLEADS WITH VOLUNTEERS TO STAY

EMERGENCY SERVICES MINISTER JANE GARRET RESIGNS OVER CFA WAR

OPINION: BOARD GAMES BEGIN IN CFA BATTLE

VIC HEALTH MINISTER SAYS NO DIVISION IN CABINET OVER CFA

EDITORIAL: BULLIES WILL NOT PROSPER

This is despite him speaking to both Premier Andrews and United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall about the dispute.

In an ominous sign for CFA chief Lucinda Nolan, who has refused to sign the EBA, Mr Andrews yesterday refused to publicly back her, saying it was up to the board to appoint a CEO.

Mr Andrews sacked the board last week after it also refused to back the union deal.

“That’s (Ms Nolan’s job) a matter for them and they can make a judgment,” he told the ABC.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has vowed to stop the move if is re-elected, saying he would add “adverse impacts on volunteer organisations’’ to the “objectionable clauses’’ list that Fair Work must consider when examining enterprise bargaining agreements.

Molyullah CFA captain Campbell Griffin (front) says he will resign if the EBA is passed. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash detailed yesterday her powers to intervene should Mr Andrews succeed in ramming the EBA through before the legislation could be changed.

This would include seeking leave to intervene to the Fair Work Commission on the basis of legal advice showing the EBA contained discriminatory terms.

Senator Cash can also request a review of a decision, if the Full Bench of the Commission agreed to the EBA.

Section 569 of the Fair work Act also gives her power to appeal to the Federal Court on behalf of the CFA volunteers.

“The federal Coalition will protect and respect CFA volunteers. As Minister for Employment, I will use all the powers available to me to help stop Bill Shorten’s union takeover of the CFA,’’ Senator Cash said.

[e-mail]