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Vic firefighters dispute likely to drag on

Volunteer opposition to a CFA deal that's pitting firefighter against firefighter must stop, the Victorian government says.

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Source: AAP


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The dispute between volunteer firefighters and the Victorian government could drag into the upcoming bushfire season despite efforts to force a resolution.

The CFA board on Friday endorsed an amended enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA), which will go to the United Firefighters Union for a vote.

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino says this marks an end to the long-running disagreement between the CFA and the government.

"The time for division, the time for conflict, is over," he told reporters on Saturday.

"We cannot afford, as a state, to go into another bushfire season with this dispute unresolved."

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But legal action by Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, which says the deal is a betrayal of volunteers, could derail progress if its application to extend an existing injunction goes through the Supreme Court.

Mr Merlino says the legal action is unnecessary.

"It's disappointing that an organisation that receives taxpayer funds for the welfare of volunteer firefighters are using those resources to pursue unnecessary legal action," he said.

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria says it has not been consulted over the deal, as required by a Supreme Court injunction.

This is disputed by the CFA board.

The emergency services minister also reiterated the CFA board's message that the new agreement does not negatively affect volunteers.

"We need to heal the wounds, we need to dispel myths and work together much better," he said.

It took eight weeks for the new board to endorse the deal, after the previous board was sacked by the government for refusing to send the proposal to a vote.

After United Firefighters Union members vote on it, it will need to be ratified by the Fair Work Commission.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy says the agreement endorsed by the "puppet CFA board" is a disgrace and has vowed to wind it back in parliament.


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