I HAVE pledged my support for volunteer firefighters who face not having a say in how the Country Fire Authority is run.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Daniel Andrews’ intervention in this matter is purely to keep his union mates at the United Firefighters Union happy.
More than 400 Country Fire Authority vehicles and 1000 volunteers from across country Victoria descended upon Spring Street at the weekend to show their opposition to a new deal which will give the United Firefighters Union the final say on operational matters within the authority.
To please the union, Daniel Andrews had to go against the advice of his own Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett, who had opposed such an arrangement.
On Saturday, I stood shoulder to shoulder with Country Fire Authority brigades from Maryborough, Ararat, St Arnaud, Snake Valley, Stawell, Beaufort, Skipton and Carisbrook.
The communities across the seat of Ripon are solely protected by volunteer Country Fire Authority firefighters who need our full support.
Ripon is home to 95 Country Fire Authority brigades, which are entirely made up of volunteers.
If not for the Country Fire Authority we would be totally unprotected from fires.
Volunteer firefighters need our support.
If they don’t get a say in their organisation, then we run the risk of losing them.
A union takeover of the Country Fire Authority will lead to local volunteers being sidelined and pushed out.
Our community simply cannot afford this.
If the Country Fire Authority loses the service of local volunteers, then who else can country Victorians turn to protect our homes.
The Country Fire Authority responds to local and major fires and emergencies from house fires and car accidents to multiple major bushfires like Black Saturday.
It provides fire cover for 60 per cent of greater Melbourne’s suburbs and all of regional and rural Victoria.
There are more than 60,000 volunteers who serve in the Country Fire Authority.
Daniel Andrews is too concerned with snatching power for his union mates than looking after our state.
The Liberal’s under Matthew Guy are committed to standing up for country firefighters; we will not allow them to be steamrolled by a militant union.
LOUISE STALEY
Member for Ripon