MAY 2017

Fire Services Statement

/ 1 Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place Melbourne VIC 3000

May 2017

ISSN 978-1-925551-01-3 (Print)

Printed by TC Printing, Scoresby

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2 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER

Our state is proud of our brave and committed firefighters.

But currently, our firefighters are being let down by a system that has remained largely unchanged since the 1950s.

And as our state grows and changes, the demands on our fire services will only continue to mount.

These challenges have been made clear through a number of reviews in recent years, including the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

Each of the reviews has reached the same conclusion: if we are to keep up, we must modernise our state’s fire services.

This Fire Services Statement outlines the Government’s vision for modern fire services that will keep Victorians safe.

These changes will build on the great strengths and expertise of Victoria’s firefighters.

They will fill the gaps and fix the flaws that for too long have inhibited their work.

And fundamentally, they will better support the men and women, whether career or volunteer, who keep Victorian communities safe.

The Hon Daniel Andrews MP Premier of Victoria

/ 3

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

Since the devastating 2009 Black Saturday We will also create Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), bushfires, Victoria’s emergency management bringing together the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and fire services sectors have been put under the (MFB) and CFA career firefighters from the microscope. In fact, there have been eight reviews existing 35 integrated stations under one of the fire services in less than ten years. organisation. FRV will service metropolitan Melbourne and our major regional centres. For our These reviews have reached the same conclusion: career firefighters, the reform will mean resources, Victoria’s fire services must be modernised. structures and working conditions that don’t We need to improve governance and refresh the depend upon an arbitrary distinction between city structures that were implemented in the middle of and country. And for Victorians, it will mean they last century. can rely on the best fire and emergency service response, regardless of where they live. And while some improvements have been made, substantive reform has been put in the too hard In the future, our fire services will be able to basket for too long. adapt as Victoria grows and changes with the establishment of an independent Fire District Every day we’re at risk of outgrowing our fire Review Panel. This panel will advise on future services due to the rapid transformation of changes to the fire district boundary and its Victoria’s population and environment. recommendations will be based on expert modelling, objective criteria and population growth. In short, the time for reviews is over. Now is the time to act. Our priorities are to support the critical contribution of volunteers, remove the barriers Volunteers are, and will remain, vital to our that have inhibited the work of our fire services to response. It’s why, under these changes, Country date and most importantly, to keep Victoria safe. Fire Authority (CFA) will revert to a volunteer firefighter organisation. CFA will continue to serve the same communities and be enshrined under law. But it will be better supported and equipped, as the Government invests more than $100 million The Hon James Merlino MP to support volunteer brigades with additional Minister for Emergency Services training, equipment and facilities.

/ 5 CHANGES AND CHALLENGES FACING VICTORIA’S FIRE SERVICES

Our current fire services arrangements have VICTORIA: A CHANGING STATE their origins in the 1890s and have remained largely unchanged for the past 60 years. • CFA services 3.3 million Victorians including Under current arrangements, CFA serves rural, 60 per cent of Melbourne’s suburbs. regional and urban areas through a network of 1,220 community-based volunteer brigades, • Victoria’s population is projected to increase by including 35 integrated stations staffed by both 4.6 million people between now and 2051, with career firefighters and volunteers. growth concentrated in major regional centres and Melbourne’s outer suburbs. At the same time, MFB operates in built–up areas of Melbourne through a network of 47 stations • In 2006, CFA volunteer-only brigades responded staffed by career firefighters. 18,958 times. By 2016 this had reduced slightly to Forest Fire Management Victoria, including staff 15,603. This reflects the number of brigades that from the Department of Environment, Land, Water transitioned to the integrated model. In the same and Planning (DELWP) and others, are responsible decade, integrated brigades saw an increase in for preparedness activities to reduce the risk and responses from 19,806 to 27,167. This represents impact of bushfires, as well as responding to all an increase of 37 per cent over this period. bushfires on Victoria’s parks, forests and other • Our climate is changing, with 15 of the public land. hottest years on record occurring in the For generations, the bravery, skill and dedication past 16 years. Heatwaves are lengthening fire of our firefighters, whether paid or volunteer, have seasons, and bushfires will likely increase in kept Victoria safe and saved lives. We have a proud frequency, intensity and affect more densely track record of fire services working together with populated areas. other agencies to respond to emergencies. This • The nature of the emergencies that our fire includes Victoria State Emergency Service, Victoria agencies must deal with has also changed. Police, and Ambulance Victoria. Urban fire and rescue services are at the But our firefighters are being let down by an forefront of managing the consequences of outdated structure. All the recent reviews and major incidents involving terrorism, hazardous inquiries have made this clear, particularly the materials, and public infrastructure. This 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. includes assisting ambulance paramedics As our population grows and our environment during mass casualty incidents, dealing with changes, our existing fire services model is fires and explosions, and performing rescues. struggling to keep up. In short: just as our state evolves, so too must our fire services.

6 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT FIRE SERVICES CHALLENGES

There have been eight different reviews into Victoria’s fire services in less than ten years. This includes the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, 2011 Jones Inquiry, 2015 Fire Services Review, 2014–16 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry, Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission and the 2015–16 Parliamentary Inquiry into CFA recommended a process for reviewing Training College at Fiskville. the metropolitan fire district boundary. Key findings and recommendations from these • Poor morale arising from protracted industrial reviews include: relations negotiations. The Fire Services Review • Differences in CFA and MFB practices and recommended a focus on restoring a cohesive equipment that affect the ability of firefighters work culture. from each service to work together in responding to emergencies. The 2009 Victorian • Issues with financial, project, resource and Bushfires Royal Commission and the Fire occupational health and safety management. Services Review both made recommendations The Inquiry into CFA Training College at on enhancing the ways that the fire services Fiskville and the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry work together including standardisation of made recommendations on improving health equipment, training and systems. and safety management for firefighters and other emergency services. The Fire Services • There are workplace culture issues, including Review recommended improvements to the low morale and lack of diversity, as well as a interoperability of appliances and equipment. fundamental disconnect between management and firefighters. The Jones Inquiry and the Despite some progress, a number of these Fire Services Review made a number of issues and recommendations have not recommendations to strengthen culture and been addressed. improve diversity in the fire services. It is time to act to support our fire services • Outdated governance structures, resulting and to keep all Victorians safe. in bad decision-making processes, lack of direction and confusion regarding overall responsibilities. The Fire Services Review made recommendations to modernise legislation for the fire services and to reinstate the role of the Chief Officer as organisational leader. The 2009 / 7 PROGRESS TO DATE

Since the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal and station upgrades, as well as delivering a new Commission, progress has been made under regional training ground for firefighters in Ballan successive governments. and upgrading the Huntly training facility.

Reflecting the Commission’s recommendations, Bushfire preparedness and management has Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) been a major focus of recent progress. Safer was established under the leadership of the Together, released in November 2015, provides a Emergency Management Commissioner. EMV has coordinated whole-of-government approach that responsibility for coordinating the preparation has transformed bushfire management in Victoria. and response to major emergencies. The Victorian State Budget 2017/18 included Its role includes developing procedures so that $273.3 million to further implement Safer Together Victorian emergency services work seamlessly initiatives. Through Safer Together, all fire services together in responding to incidents. EMV also will work together in a state-wide approach has responsibility for providing timely emergency to undertake more risk planning, bushfire information to communities across the state. mitigation, targeted fuel management, and a new community-based bushfire management model. EMV has played a key role in improving the way our fire services work together. Areas of progress There has been a renewed focus on firefighter in recent years include a MFB/CFA secondment safety, wellbeing and culture. The Government is program, a joint recruit course for career acting on every recommendation from the Inquiry firefighters, and the standardisation of equipment. into CFA Training College at Fiskville, including improving accountability for the health and safety The Government has also made significant of firefighters. investments in CFA, so that it can meet the needs of its communities. Services for Melbourne’s outer EMV has also developed a framework to suburbs and major regional centres are currently increase diversity and inclusion in the sector. being strengthened through the recruitment of And since 2016, the CFA Policy and Performance an extra 450 career firefighters and the rollout Consultative Committee has brought career and of the Emergency Medical Response program. volunteer firefighters together with management The number of CFA career firefighters has also and the Government so they can jointly plan for doubled to more than 1,000 since Black Saturday. the future of CFA.

Tens of millions of dollars have been provided to our CFA volunteers with funding for more than 100 new trucks for CFA volunteer brigades since 2015. The Government has also invested in equipment

8 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT While progress has been made, more needs to be done to fully deliver on the recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission and other recent reviews to keep Victoria safe.

The Fire Services Statement outlines the next steps in reforming Victoria’s fire services.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 2009

• Establishment of the Emergency Management Act 2013.

• Establishment of EMV.

• Improved connections between our fire services – CFA/MFB secondment program and a joint CFA/MFB firefighter recruit course.

• Investing in CFA – 350 more career firefighters, more than 100 trucks for volunteer brigades, plus station and facility upgrades.

• 100 additional MFB career firefighters.

• Safer Together – $273.3 million for bushfire preparedness and mitigation.

• Action in response to the Inquiry into CFA Training College at Fiskville – $80.7 million to audit and repair CFA training facilities, plus $46.2 million to establish a new firefighting training centre in Ballan, and upgrade the training facility at Huntly. VICTORIA’S NEW FIRE SERVICES MODEL The Vision: A modern fire services model for a safer Victoria

PRIORITY ONE PRIORITY TWO

Restore CFA to a volunteer and community Establish Fire Rescue Victoria to lead focused organisation. firefighting in major regional cities and Melbourne.

CFA is enshrined in law as a volunteer A new agency covering Melbourne and firefighting service with 1,220 brigades major regional cities by incorporating continuing to serve Victorian communities the MFB and career staff from the 35 and provide vital surge capacity. integrated CFA integrated brigades. A $56.2 million CFA Support Fund to The new agency will be under the strengthen volunteer recruitment and leadership of the newly created retention, increase training options, Commissioner, Fire Rescue Victoria. expand brigade support, and develop Improved fire coverage through a brigade leadership. deeper and wider pool of career Engagement and support for volunteers firefighters within the one organisation, at 35 integrated stations so they can remain including 450 extra career firefighters that at these stations. have already been committed.

Responds to: Responds to:

Jones Inquiry, Fire Services Review, 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, CFA Policy and Performance Fire Services Review. Consultative Committee.

What does success look like? What does success look like?

CFA continues to be a strong and proud Victoria’s fire services are modern, volunteer organisation, well-equipped with appropriate governance and with contemporary, high standard support, management structures. tools and systems.

10 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT PRIORITY THREE PRIORITY FOUR

Planning and building for the future. Valuing our firefighters.

EMV will ensure all emergency services work Presumptive rights to cancer as one when responding to incidents, including compensation will be introduced for both through new emergency management career and volunteer firefighters. planning arrangements. A new accord between FRV management An independent Fire District Review Panel and firefighters will commit to an inclusive will conduct future reviews of the Fire Rescue and modern workplace. Victoria Fire District. FRV and CFA will adopt new diversity The Emergency Services Infrastructure targets to increase the number of Authority will oversee the delivery of new facilities, including a $44 million CFA station female career firefighters and women in building and upgrade program. leadership roles. Any costs in implementing fire services reforms A Diversity and Culture Change program will not be met through the Fire Services will be rolled out across all fire services. Property Levy. The amount collected won’t exceed the 2016/17 amount for two years.

Responds to: Responds to:

2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, Jones Inquiry, Fire Services Fire Services Review. Review, CFA Policy and Performance Consultative Committee.

What does success look like? What does success look like?

Victoria’s fire services are underpinned Fire services are staffed by world class by a planning framework that supports an career and volunteer firefighters that are integrated, efficient and flexible sector. well supported and reflect the community which they serve.

/ 11 PRIORITY 1 RESTORE CFA TO A VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED FIREFIGHTER ORGANISATION

CFA volunteers give more than just their time. The Government will provide CFA with additional They protect the lives and livelihoods of Victorians funding to support and recruit volunteer across our state. firefighters in the short, medium and long-term. The Victorian Government will invest $56.2 million During long campaign bushfires, and other major to establish the CFA Support Fund. CFA Support fire events, volunteers provide a vital surge capacity. Fund will provide $10 million to continue the Supporting our volunteers is essential for the future successful Volunteer Sustainability Grants Program safety of Victoria. for vital volunteer brigade equipment and facility upgrades. A range of increasing demands has impacted CFA. The needs of volunteers in terms of training, The Government and CFA will engage with brigade support and equipment have been raised volunteers and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria by a number of inquiries. To date, actions to to finalise initiatives under the CFA Support Fund. address these issues have been insufficient. The CFA Policy and Performance Committee will continue in its role to provide advice on CFA issues, CFA must be supported to maintain its knowledge including steering the development of the CFA and experience and to attract new volunteers to Support Fund. reflect Victoria’s changing community.

To address these issues, CFA will be restored to a volunteer and community focused firefighting organisation, further enshrined in law.

Additionally, CFA’s 1,220 volunteer brigades will be provided with extra support and resources so they can continue to make a vital contribution to Victoria’s emergency management.

CFA will continue to be overseen by a board with volunteer representation and a Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Officer. The CFA Act 1958 will be amended to enshrine the important role of volunteers in CFA. This will reinforce the CFA Board’s primary responsibility to support the recruitment, development and retention of volunteer officers. At the same time, the Victorian Government will reaffirm its commitment to the CFA Volunteer Charter. 12 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT CFA SUPPORT FUND

The CFA Support Fund will:

• Improve training capacity at the local level: Volunteers are calling for more flexible and locally delivered training options. The fund will support new brigade-based training and additional training coordinators focused on local needs.

• Expand brigade support: Volunteers are calling for more administrative and brigade support, and reduced red tape. The fund will provide for brigade capital works and equipment, more volunteer support officers and administration support. Successful initiatives that were funded as part of the Volunteer Support Program introduced by the former Labor Government in 2010 will be built upon and expanded.

• Create better workplace health and safety: • Enable connected brigades: Volunteers in Volunteers are exposed to many hazards on rural areas continue to call for investment the job and are increasingly responding to road in communications technology to connect crash rescues. The fund will provide extra peer brigades over large distances and so they support and counselling for volunteers, and can participate in online training and will also assist in equipping CFA firefighters development opportunities. The fund will with structural helmets and other safety support improved technology and internet improvements. Further health and safety connectivity in rural areas. measures will be developed in close consultation with the relevant CFA and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria joint committee.

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PRIORITY 1 RESTORE CFA TO A VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED FIREFIGHTER ORGANISATION

VOLUNTEERS AT 35 CFA VOLUNTEERS AT 1,220 BRIGADES INTEGRATED STATIONS

Tailored support will be provided for volunteers CFA’s 1,220 volunteer brigades will continue to at the 35 integrated stations where career serve and protect their communities just as they firefighters will transfer to FRV. always have.

Volunteers in these stations have strong CFA volunteer brigades in areas near the 35 loyalty and connections to their brigade and integrated stations will continue to operate under local community. the leadership of the CFA Chief Officer.

We understand this, and we want to preserve Volunteer brigades will work closely with FRV and and strengthen local connections, along with the other emergency services to provide their vital history, identity and culture of volunteer brigades. service to the community.

We will work with volunteers in the 35 integrated Existing assignment areas for individual brigades stations to identify the best solution for each will continue to be under the control and direction volunteer and each brigade. of the Chief Officer. In areas where FRV will be designated as the first responders, volunteer surge Volunteers will be encouraged and supported to capacity, activity levels, and back-up responses will remain as a CFA brigade at their current location, be preserved. co-located with their FRV colleagues.

We will also support any volunteers who wish to transfer in order to bolster other CFA brigades, or to transfer into career firefighting for those qualified and interested in joining FRV.

/ 15 PRIORITY 2 ESTABLISH FIRE RESCUE VICTORIA TO LEAD FIREFIGHTING IN MAJOR REGIONAL CITIES AND MELBOURNE

While Victoria’s cities, suburbs and regional areas Population growth, urbanisation and changes to have transformed in dramatic ways, the current the environment have all meant that the needs of boundary between areas serviced by MFB and CFA Victorian communities have outgrown the existing has remained largely unchanged for nearly fire services model. 60 years. DEMAND ON CFA INTEGRATED The population of metropolitan Melbourne is BRIGADES STAFFED BY CAREER projected to grow by a further 3.5 million people FIREFIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEERS by 2051 and its outer suburbs are some of the fastest growing communities in Australia. Major regional cities are also experiencing significant • In 2006, integrated brigades across the state population growth. responded on 19,806 occasions. In the decade to 2016 this increased to 27,167 responses. It is our population and economic growth that means that our fire services must adapt to meet • The number of responses from metropolitan the needs of our rapidly changing state. Melbourne’s integrated brigades has increased from 10,677 to 16,669 over the period from 2006 “Broadly, the existing arrangements have to 2016. This represents a 56 per cent increase. been in operation since early last century, but • In 2006 CFA integrated brigades at Geelong the demands made of, and the expectations City, Corio, Ocean Grove and Belmont attached to, the agencies have outpaced these responded 2,796 times. By 2016, this had structures and the environment in which they increased to 4,971 responses. operate.” – 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Final Report • Ballarat City integrated brigade responses have increased 58 per cent from 1,007 in 2006 Noting this, the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal to 1,591 in 2016. Commission made recommendations for • Bendigo integrated brigade responses have immediate operational improvements to the increased 44 per cent from 849 in 2006 to 1,222 state’s fire services. It noted that further reform in 2016. to the structure of the services would need to be considered in coming years.

Since then, a number of improvements have occurred. But at the same time, the demands placed upon career staff and volunteers at CFA integrated stations have increased dramatically.

16 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT A new organisation called Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) will be established to provide fire services to densely populated urban areas across Victoria.

FRV will bring together the MFB with CFA career firefighters. FRV will service the areas covered by MFB and by CFA’s 35 integrated stations. Any future changes to these boundaries will be as a result of determinations of the independent Fire District Review Panel.

The new role of FRV Commissioner will be created to lead the organisation. This is consistent with recommendations from the Fire Services Review and emergency management best practice. It is also consistent with the model used by other fire services throughout Australia and by Victoria Police.

The FRV Commissioner will set the strategic It means that all career firefighters will be direction and make very clear who is responsible afforded the same training structures, have when emergencies happen, so that action is similar career progression pathways, and have immediate, seamless and appropriate. The FRV clear roles and responsibilities – regardless of Commissioner will be supported by a Strategic where they work in Victoria. This will create a Advisory Committee to advise on future directions flexible, adaptive workforce that is able to deal for FRV. with a wider range of emergencies.

FRV will encompass both MFB and CFA career This new structure recognises the valuable firefighters, including the 450 extra firefighters history of MFB and CFA, and will allow for the currently being recruited. FRV brigades will have positive changes needed to create modern life-saving Emergency Medical Response capability and responsive fire services. FRV will serve and will work alongside other emergency services alongside our other emergency services to to provide road accident rescue. keep Victorians safe. And, at all emergencies, all of our services will continue to work as one. These changes will create a deeper and wider pool of highly qualified career firefighters within the one organisation.

/ 17 PRIORITY 3 PLANNING AND BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Any future changes to areas covered by FRV and and other recent reviews into Victoria’s CFA will be determined by this independent panel. fire services have made it clear that the Periodic reviews will be undertaken by the existing structures that support our firefighters Fire District Review Panel in consultation with are outdated and that these structures need affected groups. Future changes will be based on to modernise. expert demand modelling and objective criteria that reflect emerging risks and changes to our “Their Governance arrangements and governing population and environment. legislation hail from an earlier era and support This reform will ensure that our fire services adapt a rigid organisational approach rather than a in line with our state and that Victorians can rely sector-wide one.” – Fire Services Review on a service that is modern and responsive to local needs, regardless of their location. A key recommendation from the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission was that the state Further work is also required to make sure that all should appoint a Commissioner with responsibility of Victoria’s fire services have modern, safe and for providing periodic advice on the boundary appropriate facilities. The Emergency Services between CFA and MFB. This recommendation was Infrastructure Authority (ESIA) will be established accepted by the then Government, and legislation and tasked to ensure that Victoria’s emergency to establish the Commissioner passed in 2010. infrastructure remains world class. ESIA will bring together project management In 2014, this position evolved into EMV, and the and procurement expertise to better support EM Commissioner, who have since played an the connectedness of our fire services and important role modernising Victoria’s emergency other emergency services. ESIA will ensure more services and improving the way that they work effective and efficient planning and delivery of together. This role will continue, and the work new infrastructure. of EMV will be complemented by the initiatives outlined in this Statement. The Government will invest $12 million in 2017–18 to establish and operate ESIA for its first four years. The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission’s Recommendation 63 will be implemented through ESIA will be responsible for delivering built the establishment of the independent Fire District infrastructure for CFA, FRV and other emergency Review Panel. services. One of its first tasks will be to work with CFA to plan for and deliver projects under a new $44 million CFA station building program.

18 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT This will include any upgrades required at stations where CFA volunteers and FRV services are co-located, as well as upgrades and rebuilding of volunteer stations across the state.

The staging of ESIA’s establishment will be the subject of consultation with Victoria State Emergency Service, Life Saving Victoria, FRV, CFA and representatives of volunteers and staff.

Any costs in implementing fire services reforms will not be met through the Fire Services Property Levy. In addition, the Government will ensure that the total amount collected for the levy for the next two years (2017/18 and 2018/19) will not exceed the amount collected in 2016/17. PRIORITY 4 LOOKING AFTER VICTORIA’S FIREFIGHTERS

It is clear that more needs to be done to support The scheme will also take into account the health and wellbeing of all our firefighters, exceptional exposure events, enabling firefighters regardless of whether they are career or volunteer. who have attended such an event to qualify for presumption, even if they do not meet the The Inquiry into CFA Training College at Fiskville minimum years of service. An expert committee and the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry have made will advise WorkSafe on such matters. Recognising a number of recommendations on firefighter that there may be a very small number of health and safety that the Government is people who do not fit the criteria of this scheme, actioning. This includes work to develop a health the Government will also create a dedicated program for first responders. A reform that will assistance fund to support them. provide ongoing, holistic and comprehensive support for our first responders, from the Our fire services need to reflect our diverse modern moment they are recruited. Work is underway state. In order to achieve this, the Government on the development of this program, and will will invest $2.5 million for a diversity and cultural continue over coming months. change program across both CFA and FRV. In addition, an accord will be entered into by FRV Legislation will also be introduced to and the United Firefighters Union committing provide firefighters with presumptive rights both organisations to working together to reset to cancer compensation. This recognises the the culture and improve relationships between challenges that firefighters have faced in management and the workforce. This will be based accessing compensation for cancer arising on a successful model from Canada. from their service. The scheme will deliver equal access to compensation for career and The Government will also adopt new diversity volunteer firefighters. targets for our fire services. In FRV, we will commit to quadrupling the number of female firefighters in It will apply to firefighters who have developed the next four years from 100 to 400. In CFA, cancer because of their service and have been we will commit to increasing the number of women diagnosed since 1 June 2016. Rules that require in brigade leadership roles to 15 per cent from 265 volunteer firefighters to have attended to 909 over the same period. a specific number of fires are problematic, so the scheme will instead mirror the approach The modernisation of organisational structures taken in Queensland, which has no specific alone will not bring about change. We must also incident requirements. support current and future leaders, ensuring they have the skills required to bring about a cultural shift.

20 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT The Government will invest $5 million in leadership development programs across CFA and FRV. The fund will support leadership development programs for emerging leaders. This includes mentoring, management, training and assessment.

Looking after our firefighters also means making sure they have world class, contemporary appliances and equipment to keep them safe on the ground while they protect our lives and assets. That is why we will also provide $2 million for appliance refits to FRV heavy pumpers and $11 million to build and deploy six additional FRV and CFA specialist vehicles, including breathing apparatus vans and aerial appliances. NEXT STEPS

Through the Fire Services Statement, Victoria’s Consistent with the recommendations of the fire services will begin a new chapter. These Fire Services Review, the Government intends reforms are the most extensive since the 1950s to develop a modern legislative framework for and will require significant engagement with Victoria’s fire services. firefighters and brigades across Victoria. The first stage will see legislation to establish FRV, Information and engagement sessions will take further enshrine CFA as a volunteer organisation, place over coming weeks and months, including establish the independent Fire District Review at CFA district level, as well as with volunteers and Panel, and establish presumptive rights to staff at the 35 integrated stations. Local planning cancer compensation. for transition will also begin to take place. After this first stage of legislative reform, further Firefighter and support staff representative work will be undertaken to modernise our fire bodies will be engaged on details of the reforms, services legislation. including on the CFA Support Fund and the first The reforms outlined in the Fire Services Statement responder health program. will take a number of years to fully implement. Operational implementation of these changes Any costs associated with implementing the will be overseen by the Fire Services Operational reforms will not be met through the Fire Services Implementation Committee. This Committee Property Levy. In addition, the amount collected will be chaired by Mr Greg Mullins AFSM, former through the Fire Services Property Levy in the next Commissioner Fire and Rescue NSW, it will two years will not exceed the amount collected include representatives from EMV, and fire and in 2016/17. Once the new fire services have been emergency services. This Committee will ensure implemented, the Government will consider how that fire and rescue services for all Victorian to streamline and align the Fire Services Property communities will continue as normal while this Levy to these new arrangements. reform is rolled out.

22 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT CONCLUSION

As Victoria’s population grows and transforms, so should our fire services.

The case for reforming Victoria’s fire and rescue services has been made clear in reviews and inquiries undertaken over the past decade, particularly the recommendations of 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

Some progress has been made in implementing these changes – but not enough.

Victoria’s firefighting services continue to operate under a set of geographic boundaries and structures that haven’t changed for nearly 60 years.

To date, our career and volunteer firefighters have done a remarkable job, but have been fundamentally let down by these outdated arrangements.

The reforms outlined in the Fire Services Statement will ensure the necessary changes are made.

The fire services reform will create the modern governance and management structures that our firefighting services deserve.

They will invest in, and support, Victoria’s career and volunteer fire and rescue workforce.

And they will ensure that our fire services have everything they need to keep Victorians safe.

/ 23 24 / FIRE SERVICES STATEMENT