Hole found in new fire Bill

State forced to amend proposal

THE State Government could be forced to make last-minute amendments to its controversial Bill to split Victoria’s fire services, after forgetting to give an important power to the new Fire Rescue Commissioner.

It can be revealed concerns have been raised within the government about the chief of the new Fire Rescue Victoria not having the power to declare a fire danger period.

Under current laws, the CFA chief executive has the power to make the declaration but the MFB’s chief does not.

But with Fire Rescue Victoria taking over at least 35 CFA stations, it will be in charge of large regional areas where a fire danger period could need to be declared.

It is understood the government is likely to make an amendment in the Upper House to give the new chief this power.

The Bill has already passed the lower house.

Spokesman Matthew Dixon said the government was considering a “technical change”.

“The changes we are making to our fire services protect CFA volunteers, modernise our fire services and, most importantly, keep Victorians safe, wherever they live,” Mr Dixon said.

Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin said any failure to give the power to the new commissioner would put lives at risk.

“This legislation will tear apart the CFA and make Victorians less safe,” Mr Battin said.

A spokesman for Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria said: “This is a further example of this legislation being rushed without due consultation.”

The apparent oversight comes as the CFA’s chief offi- cer, Steve Warrington, has told volunteers they needed to continue to ensure high standards were maintained during the restructure.

“There will be no job losses or redundancies and for the vast majority of our volunteers nothing will change operationally — in fact, more resources will be injected into CFA,” Mr Warrington said in a letter to volunteers.

“Our priority is to reassure the Victorian community that they will continue to receive quality services and that our people are supported along this journey.”

Under the government’s proposed laws, the MFB will be abolished and all its firefighters, plus the CFA’s paid staff, moved to Fire Rescue Victoria.

The government announced the changes after failing to secure an enterprise bargaining agreement with the CFA’s paid staff, represented by the United Firefighters Union.

It agreed to the deal but said it could not get it pass the Fair Work Commission because of new laws enacted by the Federal Government last year to safeguard volunteers’ rights.

“This is a further example of this legislation being rushed without due consultation.” VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADES VICTORIA SPOKESMAN