Calls for corruption probe into union job for MP's son

The Victorian opposition has asked the anti-corruption commission to investigate revelations a crossbench MP failed to disclose that his son had a paid job with the firefighters' union before he voted on a bill to overhaul the state's fire services.

The Age on Thursday revealed the son of Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick was given a two-week paid placement at the United Firefighters Union while the union and the government were lobbying upper house crossbench MPs to pass legislation to restructure the Country Fire Authority.

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick.Credit: Morgan Hancock

Opposition emergency services spokesman Nick Wakeling wrote to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission on Thursday night calling for an investigation.

"Serious questions have been raised as to whether any inducements were provided by the union to Mr Meddick to influence his vote on this piece of legislation," Mr Wakeling said in his letter.

"Victorians expect that any allegation of corruption involving any member of the Victorian Parliament and the United Firefighters Union is investigated."

Mr Meddick declined to comment about the opposition's referral to IBAC, but on Wednesday confirmed his son got a two-week paid position at the UFU in 2019, earning $2035.

Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien.Credit: Darrian Traynor

"As a long-term unionist, I am so proud of him and the work that he did," Mr Meddick had said. "My son got the job on his own merits and received a job he deserved."

Earlier on Thursday, Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said Mr Meddick's failure to disclose the job arrangement before he voted on the bill may have breached parliamentary laws.

"I think there's a very strong suggestion that it breaches parliamentary laws. Members of Parliament are required to disclose if they have a conflict of interest on a piece of legislation before them, I think it certainly arguably qualifies as a conflict of interest," he said.

"This is extraordinary stuff.

"Why Meddick did not feel the need to disclose this to the chamber before he voted is beyond me.

"I think ... if a close family member has suddenly got a very short-term paying role with the union at the same time as a piece of legislation directly benefiting that union is before the Parliament, there's an obligation to disclose it."

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria chief executive Adam Barnett said many volunteer firefighters had long held the view the legislation was "wrong" and "ill-conceived".

"The ongoing controversy that has surrounded this legislation since it was first introduced by the Andrews government has inflicted nothing but pain and anguish on the morale of tens of thousands of CFA volunteers," Mr Barnett said.

"VFBV is calling for a full and independent investigation of the reported allegations ... It is time that these controversies be robustly tested in the interests of public safety. Victoria’s fire service arrangements are far too important and must be beyond reproach."

Police Minister Lisa Neville denied suggestions the Labor government gave the union job to Mr Meddick's son while shoring up crossbench votes: "Absolutely not," she said.

"Andy Meddick actually ran in the upper house in my region, so I spent a bit of time on the polling booth with him, and I knew from day one he was going to vote for that legislation," Ms Neville said.

"I didn't think he was going to win the seat, but we talked about it ... and three weeks after the election he stood in front of firefighters committing to vote for that legislation.

"I always had him in the 'yes' column."

United Firefighters Union Secretary Peter Marshall.Credit: AAP

The anti-corruption commission IBAC is separately investigating the UFU over whether it sought to corruptly influence state government figures, including the Premier, in its enterprise bargaining dispute and other dealings linked to Victoria’s fire services.

The fire services reform bill was one of Mr Andrews’ key drives, taking more than four years to pass the Parliament and claiming the scalps of one minister, Jane Garrett, and two fire chiefs, Lucinda Nolan and Joe Buffone. The Andrews government also sacked the entire Country Fire Authority board in 2016 at the height of tensions.

The legislation enabled the CFA’s 1220 brigades to become volunteer-only and stations with career firefighters to merge with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, to become known as Fire Rescue Victoria. The move was seen by volunteer firefighters and the Victorian opposition as a union power grab.

An IBAC spokeswoman said: "I don't believe the correspondence has been received. When it's received, IBAC will assess the matter as do all complaints".

Mr Marshall has been contacted for comment.

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