The United Firefighters Union is warning the Victorian government's plan to expand presumptive cancer legislation that was designed for firefighters could put the hard-won protections for firefighters at risk.
The presumptive legislation was originally designed so that firefighters could more easily access medical care and support if they develop certain cancers that have been scientifically proven to be caused by toxins they are regularly exposed to from entering house fires to save life and property.
However, the Andrews Government has now moved to expand the presumptive element to other workers, despite them not being exposed to the same toxins as firefighters. The UFU is concerned this expansion will make the scheme unviable and prone to repeal.
The Government has been provided alternative options for other workers, however the Government seems determined to undermine the scheme that protects the protectors.
"Pulling people from burning buildings and tackling blazes spewing noxious smoke and fumes means firies are exposed to 10,000 different types of cancer-causing toxins," said UFU Victorian Branch Secretary Peter Marshall
"That's why presumptive legislation for firefighters is necessary - because no other profession is exposed to such significant, unavoidable risk in the course of their duties.
"But if the legislation is widened to include others who don't face these risks – and do not enter burning buildings – it brings into question the financial viability of the scheme, the integrity and scope of the scheme, and makes the legislation vulnerable to repeal.
"Firefighters forego quantity and quality of life in protecting the community. The unique circumstances that is proven causation of work-related cancer should not be put at risk by the Andrews Government.
Firefighters have no objections to other workers having separate legislation, but that legislation must be sustainable and have a legitimate basis, and not be at the expense of protections that firefighters currently have.
"Firefighters have spent close to a decade fighting for presumptive legislation. No other state or territory has attempted to compromise the protection they have put in place for firefighters by ill-informed political promises"
