Volunteers had been fighting for months to ensure their rights within the organisation were protected in the staff enterprise bargaining agreement.

But the latest version of the EBA, seen a week ago, did not offer much hope.

Wangaratta North fire brigade captain Lachie Gales said it did not appear the state government was serious.

“Although there’s been a little bit of an amendment, it’s not enough – it’s just superficial,” he said.

“It was a band aid measure.”

A section was added to the EBA, stating volunteers would not be impacted, but controversial wording within the body remained.

Mr Gales said the document was “poorly worded and ambiguous”.

A Supreme Court order had prevented the Victorian government from making a decision before July 20, while it consulted with representative group Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria.

The issue reached boiling point in the lead up to the election, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull promised to overhaul the Fair Work Act to “save the CFA”.

Rutherglen group officer Andrew Russell said the issue was both a federal and state government matter, but many firefighters remained apolitical.

“We’re waiting to see what’s happening with the Turnbull government changing the Fair Work Act,” he said.

“We’re just living in hope, but we’re in limbo.”

CFA volunteer groups remained strong in their views the United Firefighters Union was trying to have too much control over firefighters.

“It’s definitely creating a divide and it’s unhealthy,” Mr Russell said.

“It’ll affect the people who go over and beyond for the CFA.”

But Mr Gales said volunteers understood protecting the community was more important than politics.

“Day to day our people are still committed to doing our job – that’s staff and volunteers,” he said.