Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has defended a controversial "consultation" clause one of his ministers is trying to axe from a pay deal with firefighters.
The clause allows the United Firefighters Union to effectively veto management decisions - even minor ones - and Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett has been pushing hard to get rid of it.
But after meeting with union boss Peter Marshall last week, Mr Andrews says the clause is really about fire services management listening to their workforce.
"Some might see consultation, actually listening to your workforce, listening and understanding from people who are actually out there fighting fires, they might see that as a veto," Mr Andrews told reporters.
"I don't see it that way - I think it's about consultation and listening.
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"If people want to suggest that firefighters aren't interested in getting the best outcomes, then they should print that, they should simply say that. I have a very different view."
Labor figures confirmed there was strong disagreement within a cabinet sub-committee over a proposed deal, which they said would have given the union almost everything it was asking for.
News Corp Australia reports Ms Garrett and new CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan refused to sign up to the terms of a new deal after the premier went over their head.
But Mr Andrews dismissed that as "absolute nonsense" and said his meeting with Mr Marshall was aimed at progressing negotiations.
"It was to have good faith negotiations and discussions and to catch up on what has been a protracted and long-running dispute, but one I'm very confident that we can get a balanced, fair and reasonable outcome on," he said.
The premier said Ms Garrett was still involved in the negotiations. The union is refusing to comment.
Shadow treasurer Michael O'Brien said Victorians couldn't afford to give away control of the fire services to a union boss.
The pay negotiations have been getting increasingly rough since firefighters helped Labor win the 2014 election, campaigning at many booths and appearing in advertisements.
