United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall calls for IBAC probe into controversial cancer legislation

A dispute between the United Firefighters Union and the Andrews government has escalated, with the union boss seeking to get the corruption watchdog involved.

Peter Marshall says he will refer the Andrews government to Victoria’s corruption watchdog. Picture: AAP

Firefighters’ union boss Peter Marshall has sensationally pledged to refer the Andrews government to Victoria’s corruption watchdog over a deal to expand presumptive cancer legislation.

Under laws passed in 2018, if a firefighter is diagnosed with cancer they do not have to prove it was caused by their career to make a valid compensation claim.

The state is now looking to expand this coverage be rewording the word “firefighters” to “persons” which would allow mechanics attending scenes to be included.

But the changes have prompted a massive backlash from the Labor affiliated United Firefighters Union, which claims it will have flow on effects that risk the scheme not being financially viable.

In an escalation of the dispute, Mr Marshall on Tuesday said he would refer the matter to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.

He said he had been told by ministerial staffers that the change was a “previous commitment”.

“Who is doing whom a favour,” Mr Marshall said.

The firefighters union is critical of the Andrews government’s presumptive cancer legislation. David Crosling.

“Someone needs to answer the question.

“Mr Andrews won’t, Minister (Jaclyn) Symes won’t, Minister (Ingrid) Stott won’t.

“What is the promise you have made against the backdrop of the scheme that protects these people?”

It comes as IBAC is still investigating industrial dealings between the Andrews Government and the UFU and allegations or corrupt conduct

When asked about this, Mr Marshall said IBAC’s secrecy powers meant he could neither confirm or deny an investigation.

“I’m very confident in my public life as a union official and as a firefighter for over 30 years, that if there was such an inquiry I would be exonerated,” he said.

The Andrews government has denied accusations the change to presumptive legislation would have a negative impact.

But in another broadside at the premier, Mr Marshall said this was spin.

He said no other jurisdiction had supported expanding the scheme beyond firefighters and that a 2011 Senate inquiry had recommended against it.

“You know, maybe some people may question what I say every now and then,” Mr Marshall said

“But the reality is the Senate said it.”

Mr Marshall said mechanics were different for firefighters because it was easy to identify what toxins they were exposed to and could access compensation more easily as a result.

But he said firefighters were potentially exposed to thousands of chemicals during a blaze and needed the presumptive legislation to remain viable.

The UFU has also asked the government to set up its own separate scheme for other careers rather than including it in the current laws.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government wasn’t worried about picking a fight with the union during an election year.

“It’s not about those issues. It’s about making sure that people who are employed by fire services ... If they get cancer because of their work they ought to be looked after,” he said.

“I’d just say you don’t have firetrucks if you don’t have mechanics to keep them going.”

Mr Andrews said the state government had built the scheme and therefore had no interest in harming it.

“I don’t agree with people criticising us for a scheme we actually created when the previous government refused to accept any link between firefighting and cancer,” he said.

“I reject completely and utterly the notion that I am doing anything to harm the scheme that we found.”

Asked if the UFU’s threats were carried out in a bid to flex their muscles, Mr Andrews said: “I’m not here to interpret that. I’m only here to talk about what the government’s doing.”

Originally published as United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall calls for IBAC probe into controversial cancer legislation