Two very different viewpoints about the Andrews government’s proposed legislation to split the CFA were put to Upper House committee hearings in Hamilton on Friday.
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While career and volunteer representatives from the Warrnambool, Ballarat and Portland integrated stations were supportive of the proposed split, representatives from volunteer brigades opposed the plan.
The big difference in opinions prompted a spirited exchange between committee member Labor MLC Shaun Leane and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) representative Owen O’Keefe, of Winslow, with Mr Leane asking for evidence from Mr O’Keefe that the proposed reform would do any more than “hurt the feelings” of volunteers.
Mr Leane said the committee would have to present a report based on evidence and the evidence presented so far was supportive of the proposed split.
He said the committee had been told that people in outer urban areas would be more at risk if the proposed chnages were not made.
Mr O’Keefe said there was evidence the CFA delivered a better standard of fire service than the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB).
Under the government’s proposed plan, the MFB and all paid firefighters in the CFA will be merged into a new organisation called Fire and Rescue Victoria and the CFA would be made a volunteer-only organisation.
However the government’s plan was stalled in the Upper House with western Victorian MP James Purcell’s vote crucial in sending the bill to a committee for further consideration.
John Allen, from the CFA Westmere group that covers an area east of the Grampians, said he had problems with one of the planned new bodies having veto over the other and it should be a cooperative arrangement.
Westmere CFA group officer David Blackburn said volunteers would not be treated the same as paid firefighters.
Earlier the paid firefighter in charge of the Warrnmabool CFA station, Paul Marshall, said the proposed change was overdue. Mr Marshall’s views were supported by the Warrnambool volunteers’ leader Wayne Rooke.
Mr Marshall said there had been a lot of misinformation on the issue by the media and politicians including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell.
