Proposed federal laws Malcolm Turnbull hopes will stop a controversial pay deal between the CFA and the firefighters' union in Victoria may not pass parliament in time to be effective.
The prime minister on Monday unveiled draft legislation to permanently protect the rights of volunteer emergency service workers following a bitter pay dispute between the CFA and United Firefighters Union.
He chose Coldstream in Victoria's Yarra Valley - a high bushfire risk area - to make his announcement.
The federal legislation, to be introduced when parliament resumes next week, will invalidate parts of enterprise agreements that undermine the capacity of firefighting or state emergency services to manage volunteer operations.
They will also stop agreements that limit organisations from engaging or deploying volunteers, or providing support or equipment to those volunteers, and strike out terms that are inconsistent with state or territory laws.
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But the laws will not be retrospective, which means if the Victorian agreement is ratified before the laws are passed, it won't be affected by the changes.
The agreement is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court by Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria and can't be voted on until a decision is handed down.
They say the proposed agreement will diminish the roles of volunteers, with the union effectively given veto powers over operational decisions.
Mr Turnbull believes it could deter volunteers from joining the CFA.
"If you drain away from a volunteer organisation the autonomy, the sense of self-respect, the sense of self-control of those volunteers, then you will discourage recruitment," Mr Turnbull said.
"You reduce morale, you demoralise the volunteers and over time you'll have fewer and fewer people volunteering."
Deputy Premier James Merlino - who's also the state emergency services minister - wouldn't speculate on Monday about whether Fair Work Act amendments could affect the CFA deal.
Instead he insisted the Turnbull government's intervention was simply prolonging the three-year negotiations.
"What we have seen today is that the political stunts continue," Mr Merlino told reporters in Melbourne, adding the coalition was continuing to "spread lies".
UFU secretary Peter Marshall said Mr Turnbull and federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash were "inciting division" between volunteer and career firefighters.
But Canberra's intervention has been lauded by volunteers and Victoria's opposition.
VFBV chief executive Andrew Ford said the proposed laws would protect the role and work of volunteer firefighters.
Opposition spokesman Brad Battin said Mr Turnbull's action would protect volunteerism.
"This legislation gives volunteer firefighters the respect (Premier) Daniel Andrews wouldn't afford."
Former Victorian emergency services minister Jane Garrett resigned in June shortly before the premier pushed the CFA deal through cabinet.
CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan and chief officer Joe Buffone also quit and the former board was sacked because all the members believed the deal gave too much power to the union.
