Scott Morrison puts heat on bosses to give volunteer firefighters paid leave

Scott Morrison wants corporate Australia to follow his lead in allowing paid leave to public servants fighting fires.

Scott Morrison meets crews from Woodside CFS on Tuesday. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison is applying pressure on corporate Australia to follow his government’s lead in allowing paid leave to commonwealth public servants who serve as state rural firefighters, saying he wants more companies “taking that role on”.

As bushfires raged across the nation, the Prime Minister announced on Christmas Eve that commonwealth public servants who volunteered with rural fire services would get four weeks’ paid leave on top of annual and sick leave conditions.

The surprise announcement, following Mr Morrison’s return from a holiday in Hawaii that ­attracted criticism of his absence during intense bushfires back home, came as major banks ANZ and Westpac said their employees would have “uncapped” leave while serving as volunteer emergency services workers fighting bushfires. NAB says it has had such a policy for the past three years.

“We would be looking for more companies to be taking that role on,” Mr Morrison said.

With high fuel loads and dry conditions creating a bushfire ­crisis, political pressure has been building from state firefighter groups for frontline volunteers to receive remuneration for their ­extraordinary effort before the ­expected season in the new year.

A thorny issue for the Prime Minister remains what, if any, compensation volunteer bushfire fighters might receive in cases of physical or psychological harm while serving with rural brigades. Not ruling out compensation, which could come at a huge cost, Mr Morrison said the issue would be discussed at the next COAG meeting in March.

Under the government’s new conditions, more than 150,000 federal public servants will be eligible for an extra four weeks’ paid leave if they work for emergency services as volunteers. The new rules will include potentially more paid leave on application.

State public servants in NSW who volunteer are already permitted uncapped paid leave. The Commonwealth Bank said it would double the 10 days’ paid leave granted to staff who volunteer as firefighters, matching the Morrison offer. Mick Holton, president of the Volunteer Firefighters Association in NSW, said he welcomed an extension of ­annual leave for firefighters, which appears to have bipartisan support after Mr Morrison agreed with a proposal from Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.

Mr Holton said volunteer firefighters wanted to offer their ser­vices but problems had arisen over the years for those with jobs seeking time off when bushfire fighting seasons were extended.

He said firefighters received a “basic kit” of face masks and uniforms from the state government-funded NSW Rural Fire Service that was adequate in most circumstances. But he said many volunteers had out-of-pocket expenses, and bushfire conditions indicated the firefighting season could be more prolonged than usual.

“It is unreasonable to expect this effort without volunteer firefighters receiving something back,” Mr Holton said. “We believe in mateship. When you help one of your neighbours lay concrete you might get a slab of beer, but this is dangerous activity.”

Mr Holton said the occupational work, health and safety act in NSW had covered bushfire fighters because the state’s Rural Fire Service was a mix of employed public servants and volunteers.

He said weaknesses remained in the system, however, because despite the law’s provisions on duty of care, its guidelines did not apply to all volunteers.