"Fire Rescue Victoria fire fighters have been expected to use radios that were not connecting and have no functioning duress button monitored", said Nick McGowan MP, Shadow Minister for Fire Rescue Victoria.
"As late as last Wednesday some 80 new handsets were hurriedly distributed to fire stations in and around the city, though it remains unclear whether even these new handsets rectify the concerns raised in respect to the existing Harris handsets.
"I've been down the Metro at Anzac and Town Hall stations, and the Harris Handsets repeatedly failed. I experienced it for myself!
"Fire Rescue Victoria fire fighters are also expected to respond to all emergencies in both tunnels despite not presently having Long Duration Breathing Apparatus, the kind of equipment needed to ensure the continuous flow of oxygen to a fire fighter in a drawn-out fire or emergency capable of up to 3 hours of life-sustaining support.
"The extent to which the fire fighter's equipment and trucks (appliances) have been allowed to be run-down, and their maintenance neglected, is alarming."
"Despite thousands of commuters and road users now using both tunnels what we know for certain is that our professional fire fighters have not performed a single fire drill in preparedness for a mass casualty event, or even a minor electrical alarm, much less full-blown fire.
"It is shocking to know that not a single drill has been performed on these tunnels by Fire Rescue Victoria professional fire fighters since the tunnels opened, or any time prior.
Last week the State Government dismissed these safety concerns out of hand, incorrectly labelling them as part of an ongoing "pay dispute" between the fire fighters union and Fire Rescue Victoria.
Victoria's professional fire fighters have not received a pay rise in over five years as Minister Vicki Ward has allowed the dispute to now drag out for five years, while also signing off on Fire Rescue Victoria Executives spending more than $15 million of taxpayers' dollars on solicitors and barristers to fight the professional fire fighters legitimate claims for maintained safety standards and minimum staffing.
Last Wednesday the independent industrial arbiter, the Fair Work Commission issued a Statement advising a 7-day trial with the upgraded Harris handsets will be conducted across the City. The Statement was acknowledgment the safety concerns raised by our professional fire fighters were well evidenced and presented a real safety risk to all Victorians.
The Statement was also evidence of Minister Vicki Ward's failure to heed the warning of our professional fire fighters and its union, the United Fire Fighters Union, who rather than taking the advice of the experts, allowed Fire Rescue Victoria to contest the matters at the Commission, placing public safety well behind their desire to 'open' the tunnels as a public relations stunt.
"The seven-day trial comes to an end tomorrow. The results of that trial must be made public. The state government has proven they prioritise their political agenda over public safety. Nick McGowan MP, Shadow Minister for Fire Rescue Victoria called for the results of the trail to be made immediately public.
