VFBV has been advised by VEOHRC that the Commission has decided not to apply to the High Court for special leave to appeal the Court of Appeal decision which stopped the release of the VEOHRC report into MFB and CFA. The Commission has expressed their disappointed that the report was blocked from being published and have advised that the Court of Appeal decision means that the Commission must stop working on the review and cannot publish the final report.
The VEOHRC Commissioner has acknowledged the frustration that this will cause the thousands of individuals who bravely shared their personal stories of harassment, intimidation and discrimination and has expressed her extreme disappointment that the court result means that these insights may never be used for positive change. VFBV will continue to urge VEOHRC and the UFU to find a way to ensure the reviews most important opportunities for improvement are able to be made public but the latest advice from VEOHRC does not give this aspiration much hope.
VFBV remains astonished that once again too much external interference in the management of CFA has been able to stop the release of a Government report, sadly this is further proof of the excessive interference we have been seeking to expose for some years.
VEOHRC has invited anyone who has experienced discrimination, sexual harassment or victimisation in the fire services and wishes to make a confidential complaint to contact their independent conciliation service. This offer should be taken up by anyone with a concern.
Many volunteers have contacted VFBV expressing their anger and frustration about the external interference and ability for a legal technicality to be used to stop this important VEOHRC work and these concerns have been strongly represented to VEOHRC, members are encouraged to also contact VEOHRC directly.
