Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694853954183.pdf (Australia)
SUBMISSION TO THE SENATE REVIEW INTO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT CFA VOLUNTEERS.

THE FAIR WORK AMENDMENT (RESPECT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES VOLUNTEERS ) BILL 2016.

Issues discussed  Career staff reporting to Volunteers  Chief Officers powers  Brigade Administration support Officers roles  Training for volunteers  Recognising volunteers skills and experience  Consultation with Volunteers on future development and planning needs.
I have been a volunteer member of CFA for approximately 40 years during this time I have held positions of Captain, Deputy Group Officer and Strike Team Leader attending fires across Victoria from the West of the State to large campaign fires in the East of the State as well as many local incidents.
During this time I have regularly had to assume the position of incident controller or Strike Team Leader which requires me to work with all levels of CFA personal from Career staff to volunteers as well as interagency personal.

When fires start everyone within the fire agency network need to work together as each person brings different levels of skills and experience to help control and stop incidents as quickly as possible.
I regularly work with career staff and have had to direct career staff at incidents as my role was such that I was either an incident controller or a strike Team Leader.

During the summer fire danger period it is not uncommon to have multiple fires occurring on one day stretching skills and resources.

This requires the deployment of firefighters and resources from further away to help bolster local brigades.
The Chief Officer’s role must not be subject to challenge by the UFU when deploying resources to incidents.

The Victorian community has experienced the type and size of fires that require the whole State to work together to protect life and property.

Victoria has always been fortunate to have 60,000 volunteers ready to help out when required no matter the time or day of the week.
The current UFU EBA proposal if adopted will threaten the previous good working relationship career staff and volunteers have worked under.

Local CFA brigades often rely on specialist equipment or additional resources from larger stations maned by career staff (UFU members) to support local incidents.

We cannot afford to have a situation where time is lost or action is delayed because of uncertainty surrounding deployment of those resources to the incident site.
The UFU EBA will create a disincentive to volunteers to undertake specialised training as volunteer’s roles and skills are not recognised or encouraged.

Victoria cannot afford to lose CFA volunteer skilled members or their experience in incident management or practical firefighting.

We need to encourage volunteers to continue to undertake training to enhance their skills and to provide the expertise that they have.
Under the proposed UFU EBA with the CFA, support to volunteers is restricted, the role of volunteers is eroded and volunteers are blocked from being involved in proper consultation in matters affecting them.

For example the future planning and development of Stations, Personal Protective equipment (PPE), communication equipment plus other essential issue that impact on volunteers day to day operations are all issues that CFA Volunteers should have a significant say in.
Fair Work Amendment (Respect for Emergency Services Volunteers) Bill 2016 [provisions]Submission 280 There are also part time positions (such as BASO—Brigade administrative Support Officer), which are filled by non-operational CFA members.

If these positions were to be filled by paid fire fighters (and by definition UFU members), this could be gender discriminatory as many of these roles are currently filled by women.
These positions have been created to provide support to brigades at times that correspond with brigade meetings.

These positions provide flexible part time work fitting in well not only with family and work requirements of those filling the roles, but also with the brigades themselves.
The cost implications this EBA has for Victoria will further stretch CFA funding for rural brigades who already struggle to receive the equipment, facilities and training that they require to undertake safely the work that they perform.

This EBA has questioned the value of volunteers and the work they undertake for Victoria.

We now see volunteers hesitant about the amount of time they give to protect Victoria and other States when called upon as their roles are neither respected nor valued.
CFA Volunteers need to be supported via Legislation that will provide the protection for CFA volunteers now and into the future.

Legislation needs to be enacted that will prevent the UFU from repeating this type of action when they put up future EBA claims.

Frank Tobin Fair Work Amendment (Respect for Emergency Services Volunteers) Bill 2016 [provisions]Submission 280