An insult to CFA volunteers

Despite assurances that the CFA would become a ‘volunteer-only’ firefighting service, the reality is otherwise, writes The Weekly Times.

THE Andrews Government has once again insulted the intelligence and commitment of CFA volunteers to this state.

The Premier and his ministers assured Victorians the CFA would become a “volunteer-only” firefighting service, no longer beset by conflicts with the notorious United Firefighters Union.

Yet the recently released restructure model shows the CFA will be forced to second 229 FRV operational staff to run most of its operations, including 96 commanders, 40 assistant chief fire officers, six community safety officers and 87 instructors and supervisors.

These seconded FRV employees will be subject to an enterprise agreement that gives the UFU power of veto over where they are located and the support and training they deliver to CFA volunteers.

Then there’s the Government’s promise to work and consult with all stakeholders equally.

Why then was Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria excluded from talks on the secondment model?

Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville’s “extensive consultation” with volunteers was nothing more than an illusion, given the 1300 volunteers who turned up to the government’s 54 consultative meetings struggled to get their questions answered.

The reality is the Government never intended to consult volunteers, evidenced by a recent FRV communique that states “over the last six months extensive work has been undertaken by the CFA, MFB and UFU in developing an FRV secondment model”.

There’s no mention of input from the 54,000 volunteers who are the true CFA.

It’s clearly a case of the UFU tail wagging a confused and very disillusioned dog.

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