Vic firies union attacks Liberals

The Victorian firefighters union says it's only trying to correct the record with an ad accusing the Liberal Party of telling lies

Victoria's firefighters union has launched an ad attacking the Liberal Party but says its campaigning this week is all about correcting the record on its pay deal, not politics.

The TV ad accuses the Liberals of trying to profit from the controversial CFA pay and conditions dispute, United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said on Monday.

The union will have a large presence in the federal election's final week, Mr Marshall added.

"It won't be about trying to partisan politick," he said.

"It will be about trying to correct information and give the information to the public about the fact the Liberal Party have propagated lies for the purpose of fundraising."

The bitter Victorian dispute about the paid firefighters' enterprise bargaining agreement made national headlines after Malcolm Turnbull weighed in earlier this month.

The CFA has 55,000 volunteers and 2200 paid employees across outer Melbourne and rural Victoria and there are tensions at fire stations over the proposed EBA.

The proposed deal, backed by the state Labor government after some public in-fighting, includes consultation clauses former emergency services minister Jane Garrett and the former CFA board feared would give the UFU a veto on CFA management decisions.

Ms Garrett, CFA chief Lucinda Nolan and the CFA board have all resigned or been sacked over their opposition to the EBA.

The federal coalition has promised to amend the Fair Work Act to include a clause forbidding volunteer organisations to be adversely impacted by EBAs.

Mr Marshall said the Liberals polarised volunteers with "lies", then sought donations via a petition on a party-funded website.

He said it was "rubbish and just wrong" that the deal included a veto clause or that firefighting would not be allowed until seven paid firefighters were in attendance.

There are fears that anger over the controversy could be felt in Saturday's election with swings in fringe Melbourne seats against Labor.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world