Female firefighters in Australia

A stoush between the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade and United Firefighters Union over a recruitment drive to increase the number of female fire-fighters in Victoria will be settled privately, with both parties agreeing meet outside of the Fair Work Commission.

Bronnie Mackintosh Source: SBS

The move by the M-F-B has prompted other states to consider similar action to increase diversity in the occupation, but the union fears changes to the competitive recruitment process will lead to a drop in professional standards. Abby Dinham reports