United Firefighters Union campaign against Andrews government

A movement led by a former union friend of Daniel Andrews has landed a devastating blow on his party’s re-election campaign.

United Firefighters Union chief Peter Marshall. Picture: AAP

A third of Victorian voters said a damaging campaign from firefighters is likely to influence whether they vote for the Andrews government, new polling has revealed.

Polling conducted by uComm, which surveyed more than 1000 “statistically significant” residents for the powerful United Firefighters Union, indicated that more than 73 per cent of Victorian voters support calls for the state government to redirect funding to provide resources for the state’s fire services.

The figures, released exclusively to the Herald Sun, show that 32 per cent of Victorians – including 42 per cent of undecided voters – said the firefighter’s campaign would ultimately influence their verdict for or against the Andrews government when they head to the polls in November.

Daniel Andrews has been targeted by former union allies in the lead up to the election. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Union boss Peter Marshall, who is preparing to launch a major electronic media blitz in the lead up to the election, said the polling demonstrated the UFU’s campaign will be “particularly impactful” in key marginal seats.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line to protect Victorians – and in return the Andrews government has trashed firefighter cancer laws, refused funding to replace fire trucks which should be off the road and ignored urgent requests for new training facilities,” Mr Marshall told the Herald Sun.

“Our polling shows that for undecided voters, hearing from local firefighters about actions on the Andrews Labor government will be decisive in how they cast their voice.

“This could swing the result in key battleground seats like Melton, Point Cook or Werribee, where independents are giving voters an alternative.”

Mr Marshall, who has been at war with the Andrews government over its decision to extend presumptive cancer legislation to mechanics and equipment maintenance workers attending fires, has vowed to campaign hard against Labor in key marginal seats, as well as in the upper house seats of Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes and Workplace Safety Minister Ingrid Stitt.

But Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday wouldn’t say if he was worried by the UFU’s campaign, instead choosing to focus on his “optimistic and positive plan” for Victorians.

“It’s a state election, there’ll be lots of candidates, lots of views, lots of debate and discussion, then Victorians will make their choice,” Mr Andrews said.

Union boss Peter Marshall said the polling demonstrated the UFU’s campaign will be “particularly impactful” in key marginal seats.

“Let me tell you the things that I worry about, the things I’m concerned about. I’m concerned about making nursing degrees free. I’m concerned about building new hospitals. I’m concerned about building big transport projects because you have to do both.

“We’ve got big bold plans for the future and we will outline all of those for you. And then Victorians will choose.”

As well as a dedicated compensation scheme for firefighters who acquire a work related cancer, big ticket items on the union’s wish list to government include replacing outdated trucks, providing trench rescue equipment and training and establishing new training grounds in regional Victoria.

Over 80 per cent of voters – including 86 per cent of Labor voters – surveyed said they supported demands for a dedicated compensation scheme, while nearly 90 per cent said they backed calls for specialist trench rescue equipment to be relocated to regional areas.

Meanwhile, 83 per cent said they said agreed with the call to replace 15 specialist fire trucks that exceeded their lifespan. And 78 per cent said they were in favour of two new training grounds in regional Victoria.

“Firefighters will build upon this polling and target the undecided voter by an extensive community awareness campaign,” Mr Marshall added.

“The public values the opinion of firefighters and this polling shows that firefighters are determined to rectify the deficiencies in firefighter and community safety because of the Andrews government.”

The Herald Sun revealed last month that more than $1m will be spent by the United Firefighters’ Union to man polling booths, doorknock voters and put out ­advertisements attacking the state government’s response to its demands.

Originally published as United Firefighters Union campaign against Andrews government