Victoria is breaking up its fire services to ram through a controversial union pay deal, but the union says it already has "significant concerns" about the new model.
Paid firefighters from the 160-year-old CFA and the MFB will move to the newly-created Fire Rescue Victoria, leaving the CFA to continue as a volunteer-only organisation.
Premier Daniel Andrews said eight reviews in the past 10 years had called for the state's fire services to be modernised.
"If you go back and look at each of those reviews ... the reasons why we have made this change, are talked about page after page, report after report, year after year," Mr Andrews told reporters on Friday.
But Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria chief executive Andrew Ford wasn't having it.
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"None of the reviews recommended breaking up the CFA," Mr Ford told ABC Radio.
Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said the reforms included 450 new firefighters Labor promised at the election.
He said uniforms and rebadging would cost an extra about $5 million a year over the next few years.
The government hopes the split will end a controversial dispute with the United Firefighters Union, which has fought bitterly with the government, the CFA, the MFB and volunteers over new pay deals.
Union secretary Peter Marshall says he has "significant concerns" about the planned reform.
"The UFU has concerns regarding the government's proposal, and in particular its election commitments to the UFU and its members," Mr Marshall said in a statement on Thursday night.
The union said it had no further comment to make on Friday.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy said the changes were being rammed through without consultation.
"Where's the impetus to do this come from? Where's the report, the smoking gun that says the CFA isn't working?" Mr Guy said.
Mr Andrews said the eight reviews had consulted widely.
"There has been a proper process of engagement," Mr Andrews said.
"Looking at all those reports, and common sense tells you that this is the way to go."
He said the reforms would take two years to implement.
CFA chair Greg Smith said the reform gave greater certainty to firefighters.
"It's important to reiterate the current role of volunteer brigades remains in place and this package will protect the important surge capacity provided by volunteers," he said in a statement.
Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said it was a "bold reform" but the services would all work as one.
The reform package includes $56.2 million to strengthen recruitment, training and retention, while Mr Merlino said the number of women firefighters would quadruple over the next four years.
The premier said legislation to change the fire services would be taken to parliament soon.
