Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Unfortunately they just did not deliver it. So here we are with a bill before the Senate which I commend to the Senate as a way of protecting our volunteers and ensuring that the CFA can operate effectively, allowing them to have a say when industrial relations issues impact on their operation.

People have talked about the constitutionality. One academic who was employed by Julia Gillard previously—so hardly, I would say, impartial—gave what he admitted was just an opinion and he said that there were alternative opinions out there. This bill has been carefully drafted. One of the other criticisms was around the scope of the bill. The scope of the bill is deliberately narrow. We do not want to encapsulate every volunteer or, indeed, every organisation that includes and supports volunteers. This bill recognises the unique construct of the Country Fire Authority in my home state of Victoria. It is a volunteer organisation supported by employees. It is very, very different. So the police force does not need to be worried. The nurses do not need to be worried. The ambos do not need to be worried. This is not going to affect them. This is about solving a unique problem for a very unique and highly regarded organisation.

The other critique that has been bandied about by those opposite is, 'Poor volunteers. They just don't get it. It is all about misinformation.' Well, I am sorry but to a man and a woman—from the brigade members to their representative bodies in Melbourne, to the sacked board members and the resigned CEO, Lucinda Nolan, right throughout the organisation—there was a clarity of thought and purpose. There was a deep understanding of how the EBA affected their capacity to deliver emergency services operations in my home state. For those opposite to say that they were not always quoting from the right information either is, I think, just a complete attempted to muddy the waters.

We on this side respect the role of both volunteer firefighters and paid firefighters and the courage that they all display in keeping us safe in emergencies. Right now, the CFA is working in regional communities affected by floods. They do not just look at fires. These men and women are helping our communities right across the board.

The ALP's failure to support this bill and our volunteers is deplorable. Those volunteers deserve to be able to have a say when industrial relations matters impact on their capacity to do their job and impacts on the culture of their organisation and the capacity for volunteer firefighters to work hand in glove with paid firefighters, as they have to do in integrated stations. We do not want that undermined.

It was very, very clear in submission after submission and in all the public evidence that currently in Victoria the CFA are in crisis with this EBA. This bill will absolutely give them the support that they need to have a say on those EBA arrangements that are seeking to undermine their particular operations.

Senator Bilyk also made comment earlier around our government reacting to things we do not like. I will tell you what, Senator Bilyk, with respect to the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, we do not like it when small businesses go out of business. We do not like truck drivers around our country who are supporting their families going out of business. We do not like our volunteers being overridden for the sake Premier Andrew's deal with the UFU. I am very proud to be in a government that supports Australians who put their lives on the line to have a say when IR arrangements impact on their ability to do their jobs. I absolutely look forward to the Senate supporting this particular piece of legislation.

I would like to thank the secretariat for the hard work that they have done in turning this around in such a short period of time. I would also like to thank all those who took the time to make submissions and to give evidence—the Senate inquiry process does not work unless we all participate. I look forward to the passage of this bill as we go forward to support our great volunteers.