[Greens-Media] Win for Firefighters as Greens’ Amendments to Cover CFS in Cancer Compensation Bill Passed

[Franks, Office]

The SA Legislative Council today overwhelmingly voted to pass the Greens’ amendments to the
Government Bill to provide cancer compensation to both paid and volunteer firefighters. The state Bill
reflects gains made for firefighters by a Greens’ Bill passed in the Federal Parliament in late 2011.

Greens’ Emergency Services and Volunteers spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC said she was thrilled with
the outcome stating: “This is an extremely important reform for the state’s Metropolitan Fire Service
(MFS) firefighters and Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers.

“Only members elected as Labor members voted against the Greens amendments to the Bill, while the
rest of the Parliament has shown their strong support for all firefighters.

“This Bill will ensure that firefighters who meet requirements (between two and 25 year thresholds of
service as an active firefighter) are eligible to receive presumptive treatment on a compensation claim
should they contract one of twelve specified cancers scientifically linked with the act of fighting fires.

“One more small, but significant hurdle to this important law now remains: its acceptance by the Lower
House either today or tomorrow where obviously the Government ‘has the numbers’.

“I am hopeful that the Weatherill Government will accept that the protection of CFS firefighters on a par
with MFS firefighters is the will of the Parliament.

“The Greens believe that the state’s 13,500 CFS volunteers deserve the same protection as those in the
MFS, the Parliament today supported that. It is time for the Labor Weatherill government to accept that.

“Put simply, carcinogens don’t discriminate between career and volunteer firefighters and nor should the
Parliament.

“CFS volunteers often stand side by side with their paid comrades to fight fires in this state and to ignore
this Bill is to ignore the immense contribution of these South Australians.

“CFS volunteers face thousands of incidents each year, equating to more than 200,000 hours of service in
South Australia alone.

“This is an exciting day for firefighters in this state and I am calling on the Weatherill Government to heed
the views of the Legislative council amendments made today to protect all firefighters,” Ms Franks
concluded.

For further comment contact Tammy Franks MLC on 0406 729 981

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