Labor must withdraw fire bill
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Labor must withdraw fire bill

A parliamentary committee has recommended to the State Government that it should withdraw legislation to restructure Victoria’s fire services and said it failed to consult properly on the issue.

Mr Bull said the recommendation was one of many from the Inquiry into Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2017.

“The Committee said the Government’s consultation on the Bill had been ‘inadequate’ and ‘in the case of consultation with volunteers, in contravention of the CFA Act’. It made clear staff and volunteers were not properly referred to on the restructure plans,” Mr Bull said.

“Through a number of discussions and meetings with volunteer fire fighters in East Gippsland (some with State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy), I have heard numerous CFA members say the proposal would not be good for the future of fire fighting in Victoria.

“It was also pleasing to have had local volunteer firefighters both make submissions to the inquiry and present at the recent public hearing in Traralgon,” he said.

The Committee has also recommended the Department of Premier and Cabinet be referred for investigation for interfering with the inquiry and that the firefighters’ presumptive rights compensation should be reintroduced as a stand-alone Bill to be considered on its own merits.

Monday, August 21, 2017