6 May 2016
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has come out fighting in parliament this week for the rights of the Country Fire Authority volunteers.
Mr Walsh said that every inquiry into firefighting in Victoria including the 1939 Bushfire Royal Commission and the 2009 Black Saturday Royal Commission has stated that an integrated volunteer fire fighting organisation is the best model for Victoria.
“In government the Liberal Nationals Coalition legislated to have the CFA Volunteer Code inserted into legislation.
“We believe that the proposed EBA from the UFU breaches that code on many of its clauses the most contentious being
- The presence of 7 paid firefighters on the fire ground prior to commencement of operations;
- Create a Consultative Committee that has a Veto power on Management decisions and
- The UFU must be consulted and reach agreement on the structure of any volunteer support including BASO’s for Volunteers.
Mr Walsh said that Daniel Andrews must rule out those contentious clauses and allow our volunteer firefighters to focus on doing what they do best and that is fighting fires in our rural communities.
“We have got to make sure that we do not lose the spirit of volunteerism here in Victoria just because the Andrews Labor Government wants to honour an IOU with the UFU for manning its polling booths in the 2014 State Election “ Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh is urging his constituency to pressure the Andrews Labor Government to keep their hands off the CFA by signing a petition available at
http://www.peterwalsh.org.au/hands_off_the_cfa
Hard copies available at the Murray Plains Electorate Office 496 High St Echuca. 54822039
