Watchdog scathing of move to split fire agencies

Victoria’s fire agency watchdog has criticised the powerful firefighters union for hampering efficiency by exerting too much control over basic decisions.

Victoria’s fire services will struggle in the upcoming high risk bushfire season after state’s move to modernise the agencies has stalled and the powerful firefighters union continues to hamper efficiency by exerting too much control over basic decisions, the state’s fire agency watchdog has warned.

As Victoria faces one of its most high risk fire seasons in years, the Fire Services Implementation Monitor, Niall Blair has delivered a scathing review of the move to split paid and unpaid firefighters.

The report tabled in parliament on Thursday warned that the United Firefighters Union (UFU) was having “damaging impacts’’ on the running of Fire Services Victoria and some Country Fire Authority (CFA) branches, and said “something must change”.

United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall. Picture: Tim Carrafa

He raised concerns of multiple emergencies where trucks were not being sent from the nearest location due to efficiency and union issues.

The report also revealed that the UFU was stalling staff being seconded between organisations leaving the CFA without 20 per cent of its career commanders.

Complaints were particularly common at stations where paid and volunteer fire fighters were stationed.

“The ‘consult and agree’ clause in FRV’s enterprise agreement for operational staff, which

previously applied to MFB staff, disables the ability of management to implement policies without reaching consensus with the Union,” Mr Blair said.

“The evidence provided to IBAC by former MFB executives on this matter aligns with the information my office has received about the long delays and barriers caused by this clause.

“My office has also received evidence of industrial action impacting CFA activities, particularly in co-located stations.”

The report found the United Firefighters Union was having ‘damaging impacts’ on the running of Fire Services Victoria and some Country Fire Authority branches. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The damning review comes four years after the Victorian Government, under former premier Daniel Andrews, moved to split the CFA and Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) and create the new professional fire fighting service.

Mr Blair said the process had stalled four years in, and he had concerns about the operability of the state’s crews in the upcoming fire season.

“Ultimately, this is about moving towards a modern and interoperable fire service that is capable of responding to Victoria’s emerging climactic conditions and changing risk profile,” Mr Blair stated.

“The forecast for the coming fire season is very concerning and could expose the reform-related issues being experienced on the ground, which go beyond the implementation plan actions alone.”

Victoria is facing one of its most high risk fire seasons in years. Picture: AAP

Mr Blair highlighted the ongoing “complex industrial environment within which fire services” was also a factor.

Fire Services Victoria (FSV) and the United Firefighters Union (UFU) went to the Fair Work Commission in December in the bid to end the current months long pay dispute.

The escalation came after Victorian firefighters turned down a “mega deal offer” that included a whopping 12 per cent pay increase over four years and thousands of dollars in cash bonuses.

But the case has since stalled after the UFU called for an adjournment after the Federal Government passed a tranche of new industrial bargaining laws.

a FRV spokesperson: “Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) welcomes the release of the Fire Services Implementation Monitor Year Four Annual Report 2023-24.

“FRV is reviewing the report to better understand and respond to the findings.”

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria said the monitor’s warning did not “come as a surprise” and warnings over the UFU involvement on secondments of staff were especially pertinent.

“The independent Fire Services Implementation Monitor (FSIM) has slammed the secondment arrangements and concluded that in his opinion and the unanimous opinion of senior leaders of the fire services (CFA & FRV) that the arrangements are not working, have not worked for quite some time and in fact will never work,” a statement released by VFBV said.

“And while these findings do not come as a surprise to VFBV who has been the canary in the coalmine about these issues for years, these findings from an independent monitor herald a crossroads for the Victorian Government.”

“Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) are contractually required to supply CFA with 45 Assistant Chief Fire Officers, and 96 Commanders.

“These are key positions and are critical to CFA’s ability to perform its role and respond to fire and emergencies in one of the world’s most fire prone area’s.

“The independent monitor reports on average in any given week there are at least 17 senior vacancies amongst the Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Commander pool each week.

“The monitor also finds that at its worst, there can be more than 33 vacancies in a week, accounting for more than 20% of CFA’s paid operational workforce.

“These figures are supported by volunteer brigades who frequently report to us the shortages and gaps of support they are now routinely having to deal with.

“These are alarming figures as we head into Victoria’s fire danger period.”

“VFBV wish to make clear that our attacks on the secondment arrangements are in no way a reflection on the secondees themselves, but rather a reflection on the misguided arrangements that set them up to fail in the first place.”