All Victorians, especially those in regional and rural Victoria, recognise the enormous value of the Country Fire Authority.
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The CFA is a unique blend of career staff and highly trained volunteers, who time and again demonstrate their commitment to saving the lives and property across our state.
Ever since its creation, the CFA has embodied the very essence of volunteerism.
It has also been recognised around the world as a pre-eminent firefighting organisation.
It is therefore totally wrong and dangerous that Premier Daniel Andrews, at the behest of the militant United Firefighters Union boss Peter Marshall, is hell-bent on attacking dedicated CFA volunteers and destroying the CFA.
Our CFA volunteers are the heart and soul of our communities.
They commit their own time and spend their own money to ensure they are properly trained to protect our lives and property.
They are available 24/7 and are prepared to put themselves into dangerous situations to protect us.
Indeed, Victoria depends on the ready availability of the thousands of firefighting volunteers who willingly leave their families, jobs and businesses – often travelling long distances – to provide the necessary surge capacity to tackle long-running blazes like the East Gippsland megafires, the Hazelwood mine fire and the tragic Black Saturday bushfires.
This surge capacity is fundamental to the work of the CFA.
And it will be jeopardised if Mr Andrews and Mr Marshall have their way.
The evidence of a Labor government vendetta against the CFA is clear.
Mr Andrews has sacked CFA leaders who stood up for the ethos of the CFA and for the vital role of CFA volunteers.
Former Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett resigned, rather than preside over the destruction of the CFA culture and effectiveness.
Labor appointed Lucinda Nolan as CFA chief executive. After a distinguished career as a senior member of Victoria Police, she resigned after a short period as she felt the task to serve the community and to uphold the foundation on which the CFA was built was under real threat from the actions of the Labor government.
Mr Andrews also took the extraordinary step of sacking the whole CFA board simply because they were doing their job and standing up for the CFA.
The Andrews government has continually acted on behalf of Mr Marshall and his union agenda, rather than in the interests of all Victorians.
This union’s militant agenda and outrageous behaviour has also seen the departure of key firefighting leaders at both the CFA and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
Experienced and respected CFA chief fire officer Joe Buffone resigned rather than selling out to union deals, MFB chief officer Peter Rau resigned over what his wife described as bullying from the UFU, and MFB chief executive Jim Higgins also resigned prematurely.
More recently, we have seen the UFU prevent the public release of an independent review by the Victorian Human Rights Commission into issues of bullying, discrimination and sexism in our fire services.
The Andrews government has continually acted on behalf of Mr Marshall and his union agenda, rather than in the interests of all Victorians.
Also, the Andrews government has taken the extraordinary step of refusing to release the CFA annual report until after the state election – what is it hiding?
Victoria is one of the most fire-prone regions in the world.
One of the key roles for any Victorian government is to ensure community safety by having a well resourced and well trained fire service in both metropolitan and rural areas of the state.
Victoria cannot afford to have a government that completely fails to understand the vital role played by the CFA and its tens of thousands of dedicated volunteers.
Victoria cannot afford to risk community safety by having a government which is beholden to union bosses, rather than acting in the interests of a safer, more secure community.
Your vote at the state election will determine the future of our CFA.
Dr Denis Napthine is the Warrnambool-based former Premier of Victoria. He and former Labor Premier Steve Bracks have been writing for Australian Community Media mastheads throughout the state election campaign.