Union bids to block review
State says fire report will go ahead
VICTORIA’S firefighters union has gone to court to stop a review of bullying and sexual harassment within the state’s fire services, but the Government is pressing on regardless.
The United Firefighters Union launched an urgent court bid yesterday to stop the Equity and Diversity Review into Fire Services being released, weeks before the findings are due.
But the Government says the review must go ahead to deal with “serious cultural issues” within the MFB and CFA.
The union filed a motion asking the Victorian Supreme Court to stop the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission from conducting and releasing the review.
But when the matter was called yesterday, the parties requested an adjournment and it is understood the union is in talks with the commission.
The union wants an order preventing VEOHRC “continuing to conduct the review or taking any steps whatsoever in the conduct of the review”, according to court documents.
But the VEOHRC says it will push on.
“We will continue with the review and are working with all stakeholders to ensure that this important work gets done and can benefit the agencies into the future,” VEOHRC commissioner Kristen Hilton said in a statement.
Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said the Government still expected the review to be completed and delivered as expected.
“Multiple reports have been clear that there are serious cultural issues within our fire services, including a poor relationship between management and workers, and a lack of diversity — this needs to be addressed,” Mr Merlino said.
The review started in July last year and is examining sexual harassment and discrimination, including bullying of employees and volunteers of the CFA and MFB.
The union ordered members not to take part in the review, which was launched after concerns were raised in the Fire Services Report.
The report found relationships between volunteer and paid firefighters were strained, bullying was not dealt with properly and there were many instances of sexual harassment and threatening behaviour against women.
The union also wanted a court-ordered declaration the review went beyond the VEOHRC’s powers.
It says the review’s methodology is flawed because anyone can complete the online survey, which “deprives its results of any credibility”. The findings were to be released in August, but in May Ms Hilton said part of the findings would be released in the coming weeks.