Stawell volunteer firefighter representatives have vowed to do everything they can to stop the state government’s “foul” plan to split volunteer and paid firefighters into two separate authorities.
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Under the overhaul, passed by Cabinet on Thursday, the MFB will be replaced with Fire Rescue Victoria, which will cover all paid firefighters, including those at 35 integrated CFA stations in Melbourne and regional centres.
The CFA will continue to exist and will become a volunteer only service.
Volunteer Brigades Stawell board member Mick Nunweek was appalled by the move and labelled it a foul change.
“There is no need to break and carve up something that works perfectly well,” he said.
Mr Nunweek said he was outraged the Premier and Emergency Services Minister failed to consult with CFA volunteers before the move was passed by cabinet.
“No change to the CFA should be done just because of an industrial agenda or secret deal and no change should be made without fair genuine consultation with the volunteers,” he said.
Mr Nunweek said he was concerned the current dispute would compromise the safety of district communities at the next fire season.
“After Black Saturday one of the recommendations was keep the system as it was because it worked well, but this has been ignored.
The future of the CFA and the safety of the Victorian community is dependent on the action of people to stop this change.”
Mr Nunweek promised neither himself or CFA volunteers would remain silent.
“I’d urge all CFA volunteers and members of the Victorian community to protest and actively contest this change,” he said.
Stawell Fire Brigade group officer Kevin Erwin said there were currently a lot more questions than answers
“Things like the airport where we have the fire bombers, who has control over those. The cost of raising the fire service levy will mean we get older and lesser equipment, it will be harder to operate,” he said.
Stawell Fire Brigade has been completely operated by volunteers for more than 150 years.
Ripon MP Louise Staley said there had been multiple inquiries and Royal Commissions into fire services, but none had broken up the CFA in the way the current proposal had.
“This is a political fix to solve a political problem with the United Firefighters Union that will leave country communities and regional cities with a weaker fire service than we have now,” she said.
Western Victoria MP Jaala Pulford assured the firefighters split would not affect the way Stawell CFA and surrounds operated.
