[Greens-Media] Greens’ Bill to Protect ALL Firefighters Moves Forward in Upper House

[Franks, Office]

Greens’ Industrial Relations spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC’s Private Members’ Workers, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Protection for Firefighters) Amendment Bill 2012 has passed its first hurdle in the Legislative Council and is likely to be voted on early next year.

Ms Franks stated: “Only one sitting week after its introduction, late last night the Greens’ Bill to protect all firefighters received support by ALL members of the cross bench of the Upper House, including Family First, Kelly Vincent from Dignity for Disability, John Darley and Ann Bressington.

The Liberal Party indicated in principle support for the Bill to a second reading vote, stopping at the committee stage where it will be examined in detail. They have reserved the right to further investigate both the science around the causation linkages and the costs of the measures.

“The Government indicated they will not support the bill ‘at this stage’ , but appear to have left the door open to considering the application of cancer compensation, reversing  the onus of proof measures for volunteers, whether in their scheme or by supporting the Greens’ bill.

“Unlike the Government’s proposal announced in early November, this Greens’ bill would support both career and volunteer firefighters, who after service of periods between five and 25 years qualify for recognition of a causal link if they contract any of the twelve cancers defined in the bill.

“As is the current state of affairs in SA the Greens’ scheme won’t differentiate between whether a firefighter is in the CFS or the MFS, paid or volunteer, full time, retained or part-time. Firefighters are currently defined as a prescribed class of ‘worker’ under the Act and this status quo should remain in recognition of the value of their work to our state.

“The decision by the Government to leave volunteers out of their cancer compensation scheme at this stage is a slap in the face for the dedicated personnel who have volunteered their time and risked their lives throughout the state protecting the community during some of the darkest times we have faced.

“After the breakthrough success of a similar Greens’ bill at a federal level to recognise the connection between certain cancers and the act of firefighting, the Greens took this matter to the Weatherill Government at the start of 2012.

“Sadly, the Weatherill Government took this good Greens’ idea and squandered it. It was bitterly disappointing to hear them announce a measure that applied only to ‘full time’ career firefighters. Rubbing salt into the wounds the Government also defined these firefighters as ‘professional’, which has angered many in the CFS. They have also left doubt as to whether the 220 retained (not full time) firefighters in the MFS will be covered in their proposed scheme.

“It was an appalling decision that I hope will be reversed after careful consideration of the value and benefits that volunteers provide to the community as a whole and an examination of the science underpinning this Greens bill,“
Ms Franks concluded.

For further comment contact Jamnes Danenberg on 0457 549 938