Victoria’s Country Fire Authority, undermined by the Andrews Labor government

While Cheeseman was told by one CFA manager that CFA leadership could be maintained by paying a retainer, as evident in NSW, Cheeseman noted that this model was much less likely to emulate the same standard developed previously by CFA leaders.

Cheeseman points to CFA leaders ensuring support for brigades with ample manpower and equipment; encouraging comradeship, discipline and respect from all CFA staff; nurturing leadership amongst the volunteers to maintain a productive and effective organisation with the necessary skills to be able to take command an emergency incident and save lives; and managing volunteers in terms of human resources, safety, fireground skills and teamwork.

To conclude, I am in agreement with CFA concerns.

The legislation has undermined the CFA by lessoning CFA morale, control and services, as noted by Lachlan Gales who accuses the government of having total disregard for the CFA’s history which had been built up by “community coming together to do work for the greater good, to protect life and property” through local people who “were motivated and committed to volunteering” with the very “best possible motivations”.  

Cheeseman also points to the potential loss of tradition where many community brigades had been captained by the son or daughter of a past Captain given such people felt a duty to the CFA and their community.

In agreement with Cheeseman, I ask why was such reform needed given that the CFA was effectively building brigades, staff, and assets, and the reforms will now lead to a situation where much higher public funds will be needed to meet greater FRV needs while communities will miss out on resources that they need.

Cheeseman is also right to again ask the question, as also asked prior to the legislation, why the FRV needs to second members to the CFA given that it is indeed logical for the CFA to employ all of the operational staff, and not have Operations Officers and Operations Managers paid by FDV to hold such roles in the CFA.

Under Warrington and previous Chief Officers, CFA leaders were encouraged to play a role in decision making at a high level as District Planning Committees, yet Cheeseman believed that this dialogue will now be hampered by memorandums of understanding that has been formed between FRV and CFA which includes a veto power for the FRV, albeit the UFU has strenuously denied this.

Given that the reform has indeed shattered CFA morale and benefits the UFU most given its influence within the FRV, in line with Cheeseman’s parliamentary submission concern that union demands should not be “at the detriment of an already depleted and disengaged volunteer workforce”, one can only hope that a future Victorian Coalition government delivers on its July 2020 promise to rebuild and restore the CFA’s ability to select, recruit and manage its own staff with regard to its delivery of fire services in current CFA areas.