The federal government says the CFA will have to renegotiate a controversial pay deal with paid firefighters or see the Fair Work Commission strike out some terms as unlawful.
New federal laws - aimed at protecting the role of volunteers in emergency organisations - passed the Senate in Canberra on Monday after the coalition won over Pauline Hanson's One Nation party.
Federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash says the changes to the Fair Work Act mean the CFA leadership will have to renegotiate the enterprise agreement to scrap any terms that restrict the ability of the organisation to manage volunteers.
"Or they can take the current proposed agreement to the Fair Work Commission and the commission will then have to determine what terms are unlawful," Senator Cash told 3AW on Tuesday.
The employment minister said volunteers were concerned the existing agreement required the CFA to consult with the United Firefighters Union - which represents paid firies - before it could "do anything".
Victorian Emergency Services Minister James Merlino insists the federal laws won't change anything in the short term.
The new the legislation won't be in play until the pay deal - on hold pending a Supreme Court challenge by volunteers - goes back to the Fair Work Commission, Mr Merlino told reporters on Tuesday.
""That's where we'll see the impact of this federal legislation."
The state opposition says the CFA pay deal may have to be reheard in the Fair Work Commission.
"It could, that's one outcome I guess, we're now in uncharted waters," Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.
The federal coalition insist its changes to the Fair Work Act are constitutional but the Victorian Labor government on Tuesday labelled them "dodgy".
