The firefighters are currently covered by three separate government-run superannuation funds, in which the entitlements depend on the length of service in the brigade. A brief review reveals the intention of consecutive Liberal Party and Labor Party governments to eventually phase out full disability and death pensions for firefighters altogether. Brigade members, who joined the service after 1986, and who work in equally dangerous conditions, are covered by an inferior scheme. The third and most recent fund is for firefighters who joined the service after 1993. For them, the benefits are even less.
Firemen also face serious health risks that can lead to long-term illness, including cancer.
A recent Worksafe report lists firemen as one of the categories of workers most likely to be exposed to a range of dangerous chemicals and fumes released by spills or combustion. Exposure to the compound can cause, liver damage, respiratory disorders, thyroid gland disorders, muscle and joint pain, violent headaches, nausea and vomiting. Recent testing on animals showed that exposure to PCB causes birth defects, still births, and decreased post-natal survival. Dissatisfaction among firefighters has been brewing since 1994. The government has taken a firm line, one that falls short of equity.