Wednesday 24 June 2020
Staff and support being stripped out of the CFA
With just days before Labor’s Fire Rescue Victoria commences, CFA volunteers are still in the dark on who they will turn to for support after 1 July.
66 commanders and instructors are being stripped out of the CFA, representing decades of lost knowledge and experience.
A further 171 CFA support staff are being stripped out and staff in one district have been told at least two-thirds of positions will not return.
Volunteers are also concerned that FRV staff seconded into the CFA will be forced to wear FRV uniforms.
While the Andrews Labor Government promised there will “be no job losses”, brigades still don’t know who they will contact for support after the end of the month.
Daniel Andrews stands condemned for stripping away millions of dollars and decades of experience out of the CFA.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Nick Wakeling:
“Hard working CFA volunteers don’t feel supported by Daniel Andrews, they feel betrayed.
“Fire services reform should be about strengthening CFA volunteers, not sidelining them.
“Victoria has lost more than 5,000 volunteers since 2014, and we can’t afford to lose any more.
“These volunteers risked their lives during catastrophic fires only five months ago, now the government has left them in the lurch. The Liberal Nationals remember their sacrifices. We won’t turn our backs on them.”
