AWU welcomes Vic Govt response to Bushfires Royal Commission

27 August 2010

The AWU has welcomed the Victorian Government's announcements overall in response to the Bushfires Royal Commission, but warned that the number of permanent DSE firefighters is not adequate.

AWU Victorian Secretary Cesar Melhem said the Premier John Brumby was to be commended for his government’s considered response to Royal Commission recommendations, and extensive public consultation undertaken before decisions were made.

State needs to be fair dinkum about backburning targets

However, Mr Melhem said issues around DSE firefighter numbers needed further consideration. Following the Esplin Report of 2003 the State Government committed to an extra 200 DSE firefighters, but that never happened.

“We currently have around 250 full-time DSE firefighters. Does today’s announcement mean we will get the extra 200 promised years ago, and then 170 on top of that?

“A figure of 620 permanent firefighters would start to make sense if the State Government is fair dinkum about reaching a backburning target of 5% of the public estate over four years,” Mr Melhem said.

Using contractors to fill the gap is not an option

The increase in backburning was a vital ingredient in the state’s bushfire preparedness but could not be met without greater numbers of DSE full-time professionals, he said.

Land management and fire prevention was a 365 days a year job for which the DSE should, and must be accountable, he said.  

“There is no point in saying the target can be reached with 420 permanent DSE firefighters, because it cannot. The addition of 231 seasonal DSE firefighters is an improvement, but not the answer.  Mr Melhem said.

“And the use of contractors to fill the gap left by the lack of full-time staff is not an option,” he said.

The AWU would hold talks with the State Government and DSE as soon as possible to flesh out its concerns.

Depending on seasonal firefighters for backburiningn not workable

The AWU’s DSE Delegates would then meet in Melbourne on 8 and 9 September to properly consider the response, and plan the way ahead for a safe and responsible plan of fire and land management.

“History has taught us that depending on seasonal firefighters for backburning is simply not workable.

“ It has not worked in the past, and there is no reason to believe it will work in the future. We need much more to try and ensure no Victorian ever has to face the horrors of Black Saturday again ,” Mr Melhem said.