James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on any recent developments that highlight the need for action to protect volunteer firefighters in my home state of Victoria?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Paterson for his question, and yes I can. On Wednesday of last week, former CFA chief executive officer Lucinda Nolan gave evidence at a Victorian parliamentary inquiry. She said of the deal between the Victorian government and the United Firefighters Union, the following:

It is destructive and divisive. I could not stay and oversee the destruction of the CFA.

She then went on to say:

I think this has the potential to negatively impact the organisation, community safety, our volunteers, and our volunteer contribution.

I was given a clear alternative—sign the EBA or leave the organisation. Obviously I chose the latter.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Show us what clause does this? Name just one clause. Show us one clause.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, unlike Senator Cameron, we on this side will continue to stand side by side with the 60,000 volunteers in the Victorian CFA.

On top of Ms Nolan's evidence to the inquiry, she was joined by former CFA chief fire officer Joe Buffone. He told the inquiry that the EBA dispute with the United Firefighters Union had severely inhibited his role and made it untenable. Mr President, these people give up their lives sometimes to ensure that the people of Victoria are safe. If we did not have volunteers in Australia, quite frankly, where would we be?

Senator Cameron interjecting—

As Sue Noble, CEO of Volunteering Victoria, has stated:

In rural areas, volunteers in the emergency services are connected and contribute across their communities in ways that extend far beyond fighting fires. Devaluing the work of volunteers will act in the same way as pulling a linchpin from the axle of these communities …

Mr President, we will back the volunteers every step of the way. (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Paterson, a supplementary question.

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister inform the Senate of the impact that the proposed deal between the Victorian government and the United Firefighters Union would have on the CFA and their volunteers?

Senator Cameron interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, on my left.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have to say to Senator Cameron: why do you hate volunteers? Why do you hate volunteers? There are 60,000 volunteers in Victoria—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order. Pause the clock.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order on both sides. Senator Cameron, a point of order.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Mr President. The minister should withdraw that remark. I cannot be accused of hating volunteers.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They have saved my community. I just don't accept the rubbish that we are getting here.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have heard the concerns of Lucinda Nolan, the former CEO of the CFA. She stood up for the volunteers and was forced out by the union and the Victorian government. Then, of course, we had the independent board of the CFA. This is what they said:

The proposed EBA undermines volunteers, our culture, allows the UFU operational and management control of CFA and is discriminatory.

Now, Mr President, shortly after making that statement, do you know what happened to the board? They were sacked by the Andrews government because they would not side with the UFU. They wanted to stand up for themselves and the 60,000 volunteers they support. Joe Buffone, another victim of the deal with the UFU, again—(Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A final supplementary question, Senator Paterson.

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister outline to the Senate what action the government will take to protect emergency service volunteers?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the Wednesday of the last sitting week, in the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister tabled our response to this disgraceful situation—which is, of course, our legislation to protect the 60,000 volunteers in the Country Fire Authority in Victoria. Our legislation will fix this mess once and for all.

We know that the Leader of the Opposition knows that he is in the wrong on this, because during the federal election campaign he was loath to attend his home state of Victoria because of the position that the Labor Party have taken on this issue. The Leader of the Opposition, a member in Victoria, has refused to side with the Victorian community. Labor say they put people first. I say to Mr Shorten: on this issue, you are not putting people first; you are putting Peter Marshall and the United Firefighters Union first. You should put the 60,000 volunteers in the CFA first. (Time expired)