VFBV

The Western Australian Parliament has just passed its Firefighters’ Cancer Law for volunteers, adding to the momentum of presumptive legislation around the country and the pressure for legislation in Victoria.

Tell your MPs it is time for presumptive legislation in Victoria that lists the same 12 cancers named in other States, treats career and volunteer firefighters equally, and includes retrospective coverage for firefighters who have already been diagnosed.

Presumptive legislation works by reversing the onus of proof.  The cancer is presumed to be work related provided it is one of 12 listed cancers and the firefighter has sufficient years of service.  

The WA legislation was supported by the Liberal National Government, the Labor Opposition, Upper House Greens and independent MPs, however it does not match the standard set by Queensland and South Australia, which treat career and volunteer firefighters equally.

Unlike their career colleagues, WA volunteers are expected to show they have attended at least five hazardous fires – structure and vehicle fires - each year for five years.

Victorian firefighters are still waiting for the legislation they were promised, and there are still unanswered questions. 

Before the 2014 State Election, Labor announced that “Victorian legislation for career and volunteer firefighters will reflect the cancers covered and timeframes for duty of service as in the Tasmanian legislation” and explicitly contained no reference to unequal treatment or extra eligibility requirements for volunteers.  However, the Government’s letters to volunteers since the election have hinted that it is considering imposing a requirement for an arbitrary number of turnouts before a volunteer becomes eligible for compensation.

Your local MPs need to know that volunteers are tired of waiting and will not accept being treated differently just because they are not paid.

Find your Member of Parliament's contact details here.

Find your Upper House Members of Parliament here.

Learn more at the VFBV Firefighters' Cancer Law page.

The SA Volunteer Fire Fighters Museum is arranging a Reunion for all past and present (staff and volunteer) members, including families of the SA Country Fire Service.

It will take place on the long weekend of October 3rd -5th, at Naracoorte Showground.

The event will include; dinner on the Saturday evening, family breakfast on Sunday, trade displays, competition display and mini events, BBQ dinner on the Sunday night, entertainment and plenty of time to relax, reminisce and enjoy a great weekend

You can contact the Museum Chairman Rex Hall AFSM on (08) 8762 1424 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Congratulations to CFA members Ivan Smith, Jamie McKenzie and Gary Harker on being awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) on Australia Day.

Ivan and Jamie are both volunteers, as are several of the members who have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

There’s a story on each recipient on the CFA website at http://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/top-honours-for-cfa-members.html

CFA has just received a letter from Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley, expressing his thanks to all involved in supporting South Australia's efforts to fight major fires in the Adelaide Hills.

Commissioner Lapsley also commended the Victorian Emergency Services personnel who at the same time have been fighting major fires in central and western parts of Victoria, and everyone providing support to those on the front line.

See below for the full text of the letter:

South Australian CFS volunteers now have equal access to cancer compensation with their career colleagues under that State’s presumptive legislation.

Amid media reports of a backdown, the SA Government has scrapped its discriminatory extra eligibility requirement that applied to volunteers but not career firefighters.

The SA Government had been resisting the introduction of presumptive legislation for volunteers, based on incorrect and exaggerated costings.

With a year’s experience, the SA Government realised it had the costings wrong and has now moved to fix the problem and introduce legislation to give equal coverage to volunteers as soon as possible.

This leaves Victoria as one of the few States still resisting the introduction of presumptive legislation.

VFBV extends its congratulations to all CFA members who were honoured with the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) or the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

David Gerrard AFSM - Beaufort CFA volunteer, Captain of 22 years, Deputy Group Officer and former District 16 VFBV President.

Peter Schmidt AFSM - CFA’s Southern Regional Director is also an ex Captain, former Deputy Group Officer and volunteer of 30 years. He currently volunteers with the Sorrento Fire Brigade.

Andrew O'Connell AFSM - an Operations Commander with the MFB, Andrew is also a long serving volunteer with Hurstbridge Fire Brigade.

Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) are;

Leon Williams OAM (Mooroopna CFA)

Ian Bodinnar OAM (Nyah Nyah West CFA)

Norm Bodinnar OAM (Nyah Nyah West CFA)

John McEvoy OAM (Dederang CFA)

Alan George Eley OAM (Echuca CFA)