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AWU waits on Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Report
30 July 2010
AWU Secretary Cesar Melhem has described tomorrow's release of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Report as a vital link in a chain of events necessary to secure the state and its fire workers against future potential fire catastrophes.
The AWU has called from the outset for a properly-resourced professional fire fighting service with increased numbers. Mr Melhem appeared twice before the Royal Commission to put the case for greater backburning activities, a change in organisational command, and greater numbers of permanent professional firefighters.
“You can’t win a war with a part time army, and I am optimistic the report will acknowledge that fact,” Mr Melhem said.
“I am hopeful it will also highlight the value of preventative action in the form of land-clearing and back-burning.”
AWU members have a direct stake in the preparation and planning for prevention, identification, evaluation and management of bushfire risks in conjunction with state services and authorities.
More than 600 AWU members were frontline fire fighters on Black Saturday employed by DSE, Parks Victoria and the Department of Primary Industry. Many more AWU members threw their efforts into protecting their communities and families as volunteers.
The AWU told the Royal Commission that Victoria needed 1,500 extra forest fire fighters, and warned that fire safety should not be left in the hands of volunteers and seasonal workers.
“Many AWU members are volunteer fire fighters, and many more have had their well-being protected by volunteers; but it is farcical to think that volunteers can bear the brunt of what clearly needs to be a professional service,” Mr Melhem said.
“However, this is no way diminishes the esteem in which the AWU holds volunteers who give so freely and courageously of their time.”
The AWU also advocated the separation of private and public assets in terms of planning for their protection in the event of another catastrophic fire season.
“The protection of public and private property brings different challenges that would not be well served by lumping the two sectors together. This was why we did not oppose a merger of the MFB and the CFA, but could not support the integration of DSE fire activities into a Victorian Fire Board incorporating their functions,” he said.
The AWU proposed the creation of a Land and Fire Commission to consolidate the responsibilities of government agencies within DSE, similar to the previous States Forests Commission of Victoria.
“The AWU wanted to see a central command established through which all firefighting bodies could report on days of peak danger. Our proposal was for a military-style command system with a joint response team to mega fires coordinating the activities of government agencies, fire services and other emergency services,” he said.
All electoral matter is authorised by Cesar Melhem, Branch Secretary