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A reminder to members that they are required to update their Uniden Digital Scanner with new firmware. The network is now using a propriety codec that the original firmware did not support. This has been updated in the latest firmware - so if your scanner has gone quiet recently, it is likely you have not yet updated your scanners software. Details ont he update can be found in this article: https://vfbv.com.au/index.php/component/k2/item/645-uniden-digital-scanner-software-update
Following some questions, we have updated the instructions on how to update your scanner's software. Please Note: Uniden does not currently provide a Linux or Mac OS version of its update software. If you don't have access to a computer running Windows, we suggest you use either a Brigade computer, or contact your local District office who may be able to assist.
Instructions
The Uniden UBCD436-PT scanner is required to be updated to ensure the scanner is current for the rollout of the outer Metro channels and enhancements under the Digital Radio Upgrade Project such as the updating of control channel frequencies across the State. Also included with this upgrade is the DELWP Digital channels and removal of CFA analogue channels.
This update has been simplified by a single update file that can be done by:
- Click the link ( https://uniden.com.au/Downloads/CFA_firm_and_master_data_updater_V1_00_01.zip ) which will open a warning box:
- Click OK to download the CFA firm and Master Data Updater v.1 zip file
- Extract the Updater zip file onto your computer
- Run the Setup and follow the instructions to install the program
- Once installed, click on the desktop icon to run the CFA Firm and Master Data Update program
- Connect the scanner to the computer via the USB cable
- Press the menu button on the side of the scanner
- Rotate the Select knob until “Settings” is highlighted
- Press the Select knob down to select “Settings”
- Rotate the Select Knob until “PC Programming Mode” is highlighted
- Press the Select Knob down to select “PC Programming Mode”
- Press the “E-yes” key to enter PC Programming Mode
- Your Scanner should now be in “PC Programming Mode”
Notes:
- Your PC may ask permission to connect to the Scanner, if so, click Accept/Allow
- Windows File Explorer may automatically open which can be ignored or closed
- Once the update is completed you may notice the scanner displays “there is nothing to scan”. If you receive this simply enter in your district number and the “E” key to commence scanning all of your chosen favourites
- Any favourites you had previously created will be removed under the upgrade process. However they are held within the Sentinel software but do not write to the scanner
VFBV Chief Executive Officer Andrew Ford was interviewed by Nicole Chvastek on Regional ABC Drive on Wednesday 14th November in relation to declining volunteer numbers, our concerns with Govt proposal to dismantle CFA and announcement of our pledge request to all Vic state election candidates. This interview followed an article appearing in this week’s Weekly Times that has reported a loss of 3,534 of CFA operational volunteers over the last four years. A transcript of this important interview is below. The full audio of the interview can be found on the ABC website.
Please Note: This transcript has been prepared for internal use only, and should not be relied upon for any other use. While it is believed to be current and accurate, it is not warranted to be so. Anyone accessing this transcript undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of the content. Before using the material contained in this transcript, the permission of the relevant presenter should be obtained. An audio version of the interview is available.
Radio Interview Transcript
| Nicole |
Well….volunteers…..CFA volunteers have drawn a line in the sand. They will be demanding from every state election candidate, doesn’t matter what party you’re associated with, clarification as to whether or not those candidates do or do not support the carve up of the CFA. As we head into another dangerous bushfire season the Weekly Times has revealed that the CFA has lost more than 3,500 of its operational volunteers since the end of 2014 and the CEO of VFBV has warned that the exodus has only just begun. We requested an interview with James Merlino the Emergency Services Minister and he declined. Andrew Ford is the CEO of Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria. Andrew Ford – good afternoon.
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| Andrew |
Good afternoon Nicole.
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| Nicole |
So why are they leaving in droves Andrew Ford?
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| Andrew |
I think they are leaving, and members are telling us they are leaving because they have had enough of the Government’s approach and attitude to CFA, the Government’s current plans to carve CFA up, the Government talking the CFA down just to drive their political agenda – the political interference in CFA and the Government’s secret deals with the union. The Government is breaking the heart of CFA volunteers - they don’t want to leave but they find at the end of the day, it’s just hurting them to stay.
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| Nicole |
Is it true - this report by the Weekly Times, that you’ve lost 3,534 operational volunteers since the end of 2014 – a 9% drop in your active firefighting force?
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| Andrew |
I don’t have the numbers, CFA have those, but I have spoken to CFA today and understand the figures quoted in the Weekly Times article are accurate. My own view is that and based on what we know of the way numbers go, there is every chance the figures if they were available for October would be even worse, and in addition to those that might have come to the point of hanging up their yellows and leaving, there are others that I know have withdrawn and are really watching what happens in the forthcoming state election. I think we are seeing the tip of the iceberg and it really worries me.
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| Nicole |
What do you mean the tip of the iceberg?
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| Andrew |
The Government has plans to carve CFA up – it has gone about a public campaign of bad mouthing the capacity and professionalism and service capability of volunteers, particularly in urban communities. Volunteers are sick of that, sick of the political interference in CFA and I have a constant stream of my members saying to me that we are really, really can’t take this much longer and we will wait and see what comes towards the end of this year, particularly at this state election.
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| Nicole |
How many do you think will go?
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| Andrew |
I hate to think Nicole. We have put a lot of energy into trying to convince the Government that their flawed agenda to carve up CFA is wrong, is dangerous , is irresponsible – we’ve been on that path for some years and the reason we’ve invested so much in that, the reason people like Jane Garrett stood down as Minister, the reason CFA Board stood up and CFA Chief Officer and CEO, was because this is a very serious issue, and I think we could see many more – I’d hate to put a number on it because then you get called a doomsayer – but you know want – I want to have a clear conscious, if a bad Government policy kills off the CFA, I want to know that I can sleep at night trying to do everything we could to stop that from happening.
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| Nicole |
The trend is 1,000 a year we’re losing.
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| Andrew |
The trend is, the net loss - is what I think the Weekly Times article points out. There’s always volunteers coming and going. CFA does enormous work and really good work to continue to recruit volunteers and I have spoken to CFA today, and they confirmed that the intake of vols and the supply of volunteers from their recruitment effort is still strong, and pretty consistent year in and year out. So that shows the supply is there, but there are people hanging up their boots and leaving, and you’re right, so the drop over last 4 years is a big drop in numbers, I think it’s nearly 10% reduction in operational capacity.
That’s got to get Victorians to wake up and say what’s happening here? The volunteer capacity in the state, the potential is enormous, it’s been proven year in, year out, and yet we’ve got a Government that wants to slap it in the face – it’s just beyond belief.
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| Nicole |
You say that this is the tip of the iceberg, they are leaving at the rate of 1,000 a year, can you see that stopping any time soon?
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| Andrew |
No I can’t. I could see it stopping if we have a change of heart.
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| Nicole |
What you mean is a change of Government.
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| Andrew |
No - I mean a change of heart. We need the policy that proposes to carve CFA up taken off the table, however that gets taken off the table is up to the public of Victoria at the end of the day. We either need to convince the Government that it’s a bad plan and they should need to change their mind and give it a rethink – we need to convince individual politicians to have a rethink and actually as we have asked, pledge their support to not carve the CFA up, or a change of Government would take that policy off the table.
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| Nicole |
The policy is off the table isn’t it Andrew? The legislation underpinning the dismantling of the CFA was defeated in the Upper House.
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| Andrew |
This is the alarm bell I need to ring to your listeners today. Most people in the community actually think that the issue is off the table because it was defeated back at Easter in the Upper House of the Victorian parliament – all that means is it is lying in wait. The Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed a about a week or so ago that if re-elected, the Andrews Government will pursue the policy, which is to pursue the policy to dismantle CFA. Now that is a live issue, that is dependant on who is in Government come December.
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| Nicole |
What will you be doing in terms of contacting each and every candidate standing for this election?
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| Andrew |
Ok - We’ve written to every candidate, from all parties and all independents, asking for them to take a pledge or fess up to not taking the pledge, but asking them to take a pledge that they will not commit to any action essentially that would dismantle CFA, other than action that might be recommended by an expert and independent transparent review process, and also to commit to absolute genuine consultation with volunteers before any change is made. We’ve established a website people can visit – supportCFAVolunteers.com.au - where we will be identifying which way candidates have pledged. If they pledge to support CFA we should applaud them, if they are not yet decided I’m asking the community and our members to work with them to try and convince them of the right thing to do and explain the folly of going ahead with a carve up of CFA, and if they are not taking the pledge, in other words if they don’t support the continuation of CFA in its current form, they ought to be brave enough to speak up, and we are saying to people we can’t tell you how to vote, we won’t tell you how to vote, VFBV is non-party political, but vote with your eyes wide open.
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| Nicole |
The Government says that the carve up in fact is about modernising the firefighting services that have for too long operated under a model which was constructed decades ago. That’s urban communities are growing at an expediential rate, and that it is time to reconfigure the firefighting services to reflect that. What’s wrong with that?
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| Andrew |
So first up that is absolute political spin, the biggest load of rubbish that I’ve ever heard. The reality is Nicole the proposal that is on the table is designed to do one thing, and its designed to give the union more control over the fire services of Victoria and designed to get the union’s Enterprise Bargaining Agreement through the Fair Work Commission process without it having to meet provisions that don’t erode the capacity of volunteers. The proposal does nothing – nothing at all, and this is factually provable, does nothing at all to add additional resources to the fire services, does nothing to improve the flexibility of fire services ability to grow with growing community service demands and will in fact restrict it further and limit it. The other thing the public need to know is, the CFA model of course it was established more than 50 years ago, but it has evolved every year as communities evolved, and the model already has the capacity to supplement volunteers with paid firefighters where busy urban communities need more support. That model is world renowned – it works, it works in heavily urbanised communities – it not only saves Victoria hundreds of millions of dollars every year, it is the most flexible model going, and the Government is looking to carve it up. They are looking to break up the fire services, when all the recent major reviews including the Black Saturday Royal Commission talked about joining the fire services up more and the fire services working together – the Government is spinning their way out of a secret deal with the union.
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| Nicole |
So what is your concern as we face yet another dangerous fire season, and at the same time we’re bleeding firefighting volunteers?
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| Andrew |
My concern is that what people are wondering about what might happen now as we look at the election of the 24th November, that come the 26th November if the policy is actually still on the table, we are going to have a firefighting service limping into this fire season with broken hearts and a knowledge that the CFA as we know it today, is on the cusp of being destroyed, so that’s my concern for this fire season. Volunteers will do what needs to be done, they will work to their last ounce of energy to protect their communities, but there will be a heavy weight around the neck of the fire services. My big concern is that for the years ahead, I think we are on a very slippery slope to dire consequence. I actually think Nicole this is a defining moment for Victoria and I really do ask the community to wake up, and stand up and see the fact that the CFA problem is not off the table, it’s very clearly there and if the policy goes ahead to dismantle CFA, we’re in a lot of trouble into the future.
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| Nicole |
What do you mean – you talk about dire consequences – what is that code for?
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| Andrew |
I mean we won’t have the capacity that we’ve drawn on in previous years to meet major fires. An enormous part of Victoria’s major firefighting capacity is drawn from volunteers in outer metropolitan Melbourne, in provincial centres and townships across Victoria. The Govt. model will be a very clear start, and deliberate move to start diminishing the role of volunteers in those urbanised communities, downgrading it, discouraging it and in future where we’ve had huge numbers of volunteers drawn on from those places for the Black Saturday fires, the Great Alpine fires, a whole range of fires, they won’t be there. And to put it into perspective, the California fires that are getting a lot of air play at the moment – tragic and sad and our hearts go out to those people who have lost lives, and loved ones and property – a hundred thousand hectares. The Great Alpine fires of 2006 in Victoria were 1.3M hectares – many many many more firefighters deployed to those fires than in the California fires. 19,000 volunteers and paid firefighters deployed to the Black Saturday fires - take 10% off that number, you’re down about 500 fire trucks – its simple maths.
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| Nicole |
Andrew Ford thank you again, CEO of VFBV.
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The full audio can be accessed by clicking on the graphic below:
CFA Pledge: Does your local candidate support Victoria's 55,000 incredible CFA Volunteers?
Written by VFBV
Visit www.SupportCFAVolunteers.com.au to find out if your local candidate has taken the CFA Pledge.
VOLUNTEERS ASK POLITICIANS TO TAKE A PLEDGE NOT TO DISMANTLE CFA
Members will be very aware of ongoing concerns about the current Government’s proposal to dismantle CFA. This proposal is still on the table and just last week, Daniel Andrews confirmed he plans to pursue the same agenda to dismantle the CFA and hand the UFU even more control of Victoria’s fire services if he is still the Premier after the election.
Those of us involved with CFA are all acutely aware of the negative impact this fragmentation of Victoria’s fire services will have on the CFA’s capacity to respond to major fires, the way volunteers and paid firefighters work together and the operations of CFA generally. But many people in the community incorrectly think the threat of dismantling CFA was removed last Easter when the legislation underpinning the planned dismantling of CFA was defeated in the Upper House of Victorian Parliament. Also many people in the community won’t realise that some of their local state election candidates are active supporters of carving the CFA up and diminishing the role of volunteers.
And we know that the result of the forthcoming Victorian State election will determine the fate of CFA, unless candidates can be convinced of the need to take the flawed plans to dismantle CFA off the table.
VFBV is non-party political but we do have an important and legitimate role and responsibility to raise concerns about issues impacting on volunteers and to try and shape Government policy, raise concerns and actively advocate for a rethink when flawed policy has the potential to erode CFA volunteer capacity or reduce the ability for volunteers to deliver community safety benefits for Victorian’s.
Despite the Premier’s recent and disappointing confirmation that he still proposes to go ahead with the plans to dismantle CFA we should not give up trying to gain support from candidates who do not want CFA to be destroyed; change the minds of those candidates who perhaps do not understand the dire consequence if the flawed plans go ahead; gain support of any candidates yet to make up their mind; and/or call out any candidates who do not support CFA and CFA volunteers.
To this end VFBV has written to every candidate running in the forthcoming Victorian State election, asking them to take the following public pledge:
“I commit that I will not support any action that alters the existing CFA legislative arrangements unless such changes are recommended by an expert and independent review based on proper, transparent and evidence-based feasibility/cost/benefit analysis involving thorough consultation with CFA volunteers
AND
I commit that I will not support any action, policy or legislative change likely to impact on CFA volunteers until the obligations and commitments set out in the CFA Volunteer Charter have been explicitly and fully adhered to.”
(A copy of the letter sent to every candidate is attached to our news note whcih can be downloaded from the bottom of this page)
We have also set up a website www.SupportCFAVolunteers.com.au specifically established to allow volunteers and the community to quickly and easily see which candidates in their electorate have taken the pledge and which have refused to publicly support CFA volunteers in this way. The website will be continuously updated as new pledges or comments are received and there will be links to publicise other relevant historic comments from candidates regarding this matter.
Action required from volunteers is to actively approach your local candidates via email, letter, phone call or visits to express your concerns about the flawed policy to carve CFA up and to encourage them to take the pledge and broadcast to their community that they have done so. It is also vital that you actively follow up with communications in your local community to let as many people as possible know where your local candidates stand on this matter. As your local candidates take the pledge or do not take the pledge we need you to:
· actively spread the word by talking to your friends, family, neighbors, community networks and work colleagues;
· contact your local newspaper, radio and other media to celebrate candidates who support CFA and encourage those yet to take the pledge to do so;
· let everyone know about candidates who do not take the pledge;
· write letters to the editor of your local newspaper or post articles on social media simply thanking those who take the pledge and encouraging those who haven’t to rethink;
· encourage everyone to visit www.SupportCFAVolunteers.com.au;
· share links and relevant updates via social media; and
· take the time to continue to work with candidates who are reluctant to take the pledge in the hope that we can collectively talk some sense into them.
While you are talking to candidates be clear and listen carefully for tell-tale spin, candidates who claim to support CFA and CFA volunteers will be prepared to take the pledge. Candidates who still support plans to carve the CFA up and give even more control of Victoria’s fire services to the union, do not support CFA volunteers and are not being honest if they say they do.
Keep your commentary non-party political and simply talk the facts about who takes the pledge and who doesn’t, and why Victoria can’t afford to carve CFA up.
Remember we are not telling people how to vote at the forthcoming state election but we are trying to achieve transparency and a more sensible policy outcome, and we do want people to vote with their eyes wide open about how their prospective local political candidate will work to determine the fate of CFA after this state election.
This is an extremely important issue for the safety of all Victorian’s, act now to ensure the message is spread while it still counts. Do not leave it for someone else to spread the word and do not look back one day if it comes to be that CFA no longer exists as we know it today and say to yourself that wished you had done more.
I am asking every volunteer to act personally before it is too late. Please visit www.SupportCFAVolunteers.com.au for the link to see where your local candidate really stands on this issue.
That site also contains news, information and support material to help you spread the word.
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Visit www.SupportCFAVolunteers.com.au to find out if your local candidate has taken the CFA Pledge.
Jack Rush RFD QC has been interviewed on Neil Mitchell's Breakfast Program on 3AW.
Mr Rush is a former Supreme Court Judge, and was Counsel assisting the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission into the Black Saturday fires.
Mr Rush has echoed concerns also raised by Bernard Teague AO, also a former Judge of the Supreme Court and was the Chairperson (head Commissioner) of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
The Radio Interview on 3AW can be found by clicking on the graphic below:
https://www.3aw.com.au/jack-rush-qc-andrews-and-marshalls-dangerous-agenda-to-emasculate-the-cfa/
News Reports can be viewed from the following:
Jack Rush RFD QC
Jack Rush QC lashes Daniel Andrews over treatment of the CFA
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/jack-rush-qc-lashes-daniel-andrews-over-treatment-of-the-cfa/news-story/fd4e4bbf1f39bb212f5433da551f252e
Jack Rush QC: Andrews and Marshall’s dangerous agenda to "emasculate the CFA"
https://www.3aw.com.au/jack-rush-qc-andrews-and-marshalls-dangerous-agenda-to-emasculate-the-cfa/
Bernard Teague AO
Black Saturday royal commissioner says UFU crisis is hurting Victoria as fears grow over bushfire season
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/black-saturday-royal-commissioner-says-ufu-crisis-is-hurting-victoria-as-fears-grow-over-bushfire-season/news-story/afc52170154e09e677807f60efc0e3e8
VFBV has received a number of inquiries and positive feedback about some radio ads that are being run to express concern regarding the government’s plan to restructure the service. Whilst the comments are highly positive about the advertisements and associated media coverage, and clearly the advertisements raise a similar concern to what VFBV has been saying for some time, the advertisement campaign is independent from VFBV.
Yesterday, Mr Jack Rush QC explained the background and concerns underpinning the campaign on the 3AW Neil Mitchell morning program (click here to listen to the interview) and outlined that the campaign was being run with the support of a range of community people across country and city Victoria who are concerned about the consequences of a policy that, as he described, will emasculate CFA.
Whilst the advertisements being run by the campaign Jack Rush referred to is not a VFBV activity nor is it funded in any way by VFBV, we are pleased that after many years of being the only prominent voice drawing attention to the dangers of restructuring the CFA, others have now started to follow suit in their own right.
With regard to any 3rd party campaigning (including the radio ads we have heard recently), Members should not shy away from supporting others who raise concerns consistent with those VFBV have spoken about for some time. The advertisements are apolitical and draw attention to a major policy concern shared by VFBV.
In particular, VFBV shares the view that:
- Every Victorian needs to know that Premier Daniel Andrews recently confirmed that he still wants Parliament to pass the Bill it rejected at Easter to restructure the CFA if he is still Premier after the election.
- Victoria will be less able to manage large-scale disasters if CFA is dismantled and the FRV model goes ahead.
- The Community should ask every Candidate to explain their view of Premier Andrews’ continued push to dismantle the CFA before voting on 24 November.
Quite separately, VFBV State President Nev Jones has voiced two messages for radio to thank CFA Volunteers for their work and remind the public to get ready for summer. These messages are part of our usual effort to support other fire season preparedness messages.
You can listen to the VFBV radio messages here:
You will note that Nev refers to a website at www.SupportCFAVolunteers.com.au That website will be updated regularly with useful information and tools of interest to the general public, rather than the more technical policy and membership issues that will continue to be available on www.vfbv.com.au
Please share the address www.SupportCFAVolunteers.com.au with as many colleagues, family and friends as possible and strongly encourage them to register as a supporter of CFA Volunteers.
This news note is to inform you of some public messaging just launched by VFBV.
The messaging is part of a range of things being progressively developed by VFBV to help the public:
· better understand the range and extent of the work CFA Volunteers do to keep our community safe,
· learn about how they can help CFA Volunteers by being prepared in case of emergency, and
· have more “skin in the game” by actively engaging with us as Supporters of CFA Volunteers.
As CFA members already know, predictions are that we are facing a very challenging fire season. Many Brigades have already attended more incidents than usual for this time of year and assuming that trend continues over the next few months, it is important to use every available tool to raise public awareness of the heightened fire risk.
Like every year, VFBV encourages our community to ‘think like a volunteer’ and ‘do their bit to support CFA’ by being prepared and staying vigilant over the hotter months. This year, we have produced two audio messages voiced by VFBV State President Nev Jones that will be played on various radio stations across Victoria until summer. If you would like to listen to them now, please use the links below:
Please tell your colleagues and networks that these messages are playing on radio and circulate the links above to ensure everyone is aware and can positively reinforce Nev’s messages whenever possible.
As well as the safety messages that are critical at this time of year, we can’t ignore that Victoria goes to the polls on 24 November. VFBV isn’t political in that we don’t “pick sides”, but we do have a very important role in making sure that any proposed policy is in the best interests of the safety of our communities.
Because of that, it is also important for all of us to remind the community about the capacity, value and essential nature of CFA volunteers and the current CFA model.
The CFA community embedded and volunteer based model, with volunteers and paid CFA staff working together as one team is the best model for Victoria. As CFA volunteers we also know the current CFA model is the only model capable of mobilising the enormous resources required to deal with major, concurrent and long duration fires experienced almost every Victorian summer.
The fact is that all major fire services reviews, including the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, recognised the vital importance of the current CFA model, and in particular, the importance of:
- The flexibility and capacity of CFA that exists because of its fully integrated paid and volunteer model, to continually evolve and adapt to meet changing risk circumstances and growing community service demands;
- CFAs highly trained and prepared volunteer surge capacity able to be mobilised from volunteer brigades across Melbourne’s outer metropolitan area, provincial towns and CFAs network of almost 1200 brigades;
- the value of CFA’s major incident management experience and local knowledge that exists within CFA’s vast volunteer resource;the importance of the CFA model as a fundamental foundation of community capacity and resilience; and
- the importance of respecting and recognising the value and professionalism of the work performed by CFA volunteers.
Unfortunately, some politicians and others with influence over them, have spent much of the past four years repeatedly telling the public that the CFA model no longer works, is stuck in the past, is outdated and somehow second-rate compared to a paid firefighter model.
While it’s obvious to us that it is not the model that needs to be changed, the repetition of this spin and political argy-bargy has left much of the public confused and with less confidence in our incredible service.
In the coming days we will provide a further update about the election in relation the CFA and CFA Volunteers, including tools and information for the public to use to understand the key issues for CFA Volunteers.
In the meantime, please encourage your colleagues and friends to visit www.SupportCFAVolunteers.com.au and register as a Supporter of CFA Volunteers to ensure they are kept informed of issues of importance to us as they evolve in the months and years ahead.
Links to Nev’s audio:
https://supportcfavolunteers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Nev181025A.wav
https://supportcfavolunteers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Nev181025B.wav
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.
New Plumbing Regulations come into effect on 18 November
Written by VFBV
The Victorian Government has recently completed its sunset review of the Plumbing Regulations. The Minister for Planning Mr Richard Wynne has announced the new Regulations which are to come into effect on 18 November 2018. The new regulations will have an impact on any CFA brigade that is currently providing FEM (Fire Equipment Maintenance) services to their communities and currently service fire hose reels.
Under the new Regulations, ‘routine servicing’ has been explicitly inserted into the regulations which will have the effect of regulating the twice-yearly routine servicing of all fire hose reels that has previously been done by CFA Brigades, and now requires this work to be done by a licensed plumber.
There are currently over 300 CFA Brigades and more than 1,500 CFA members currently performing routine inspection and service on fire equipment to over 30,000 premises across Victoria.
VFBV Position
VFBV recognises and respects the important public value provided to Victorian Communities by CFA volunteers undertaking FEM work in their local communities. Not only does FEM servicing provide funding for important brigade owned equipment and infrastructure for the benefit of the community, but CFA FEM services play a critical role in building community safety, linking local brigades with local premises facilitating incident planning and response and ensures the front line equipment to be used for fire suppression is operational and maintained at an appropriate standard.
The reality is in many locations located away from major provincial towns or centres, without CFA brigades delivering what could be described as an ‘essential fire prevention service’ there would be few if any other service providers that would consider the financial returns worthy of long travel distances based on the small numbers of potential clients.
It is VFBV’s position:
· CFA volunteers should be protected from excessive bureaucratic regulation and red tape
· CFA FEM services provides a critical public safety service that contributes significant public value
· New policy or legislation should always be assessed for any negative CFA volunteer impact before it is enacted or legislated
· There is a statutory obligation for the State of Victoria to consult with CFA volunteers and their representatives on all matters that may impact upon them before decisions are made
Current Status
The new regulations have been enacted and come into effect on the 18th November. From this date, only licensed plumbers are permitted to provide routine servicing on hose reels, fire hydrants and fire sprinklers.
As a result of significant public controversy and comment concerning the impact the new regulations are likely to have on the fire protection services industry as a whole, the Victorian Building Authority has urgently established a stakeholder working group to explore the possibility of establishing “restricted classes of registration and licensing” that would permit routine servicing of fire equipment to continue as it does now.
CFA and VFBV representatives have been invited to be a part of this working group, which will meet again next week.
Lack of Consultation has meant CFA Volunteer impacts were not properly identified or understood
The regulations sunset review was conducted by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Despite VFBV raising its concerns directly during the review period – both DELWP and CFA have failed to engage with VFBV or volunteers on the significant impacts that the new regulations will have on CFA volunteers.
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Country Fire Authority Act – Section 6G (c) requires that the Government of Victoria and the Authority commit to consulting with Volunteer Fire brigades Victoria Incorporated on behalf of volunteer officers and members on any matter that might reasonably be expected to affect them. |
VFBV was not informed of the review by either DELWP or CFA, and only became aware of the work being done very late in the process. Since July, VFBV has consistently raised its concerns with the failure to consult on this subject many times over the past three months.
Disappointingly, DELWP ignored VFBV’s requests for engagement and consultation during the review, eventually responding to VFBV correspondence advising that the “public consultation period is now closed.”
Most alarmingly, over a month after the regulatory review was finalised, CFA formally advised VFBV that it had not completed work on potential impacts of the new regulations, and would advise VFBV “in due course.” CFA further advised that it was CFA’s view that the most appropriate approach is to wait for the legislation to be drafted and passed by government prior to formal engagement with brigades or VFBV.
As at today, CFA is yet to provide VFBV with any of the requested analysis or information requested, including estimates of workload and the cost of CFA members having to be registered/licensed.
As a result – the full impact of this legislative change was most likely little understood during the Regulatory Impact process, which explains the following excerpt from the Governments Regulatory Impact Statement:
“The department considers that this specific change will have no or negligible cost impacts on the sector or involve any behaviour changes…”
(Plumbing Regulations 2018 Regulatory Impact Statement p 65.)
Community Impacts
Current CFA recommended pricing of the six-monthly Level 1 hose reel servicing for example is $6.50 with the annual Level 2 service provided for $15.50
Concerns about the lack of licensed plumbers willing to conduct this rudimentary work, especially in remote rural areas has led many to fear market economics of supply and demand may drive large scale noncompliance and put upward pressure on costs that will inevitably be passed on to the public.
The reduction of FEM income to CFA Brigades that rely on this funding for equipment and infrastructure is also likely to create significant flow-on effects as Brigades suffer from a retraction of customers looking to consolidate their servicing if CFA is unable to offer this service.
VFBV understands that during the review, these and other concerns were consistently raised by the Fire Protection Association of Australia, Metropolitan Fire Brigade and the Country Fire Authority.
Next Steps
The new regulations take effect in just two weeks, on November 18. Brigades should make best endeavour to arrange any outstanding routine servicing on hose reels prior to this date whilst discussions continue.
VFBV acknowledges the feedback received from volunteers on this subject to date - seeking policy reversal and will continue to pursue why mandatory consultation obligations to VFBV and volunteers is consistently not being met. Members are requested to discuss this issue with your local District Council and State Councillor’s to help inform future VFBV advocacy.
In the interim, and concurrently with that advocacy, the Victorian Building Authority has convened a cross sector working group to try and reach agreement on ways to minimise the regulatory impact of the changes and implement ‘transition’ arrangements.
VFBV has been invited to be part of those discussions and will work collaboratively with other stakeholders to try and identify arrangements that limit or prevent the negative regulatory impacts arising from the new legislation. We will keep members apprised as this work progresses.
Members should continue voicing their concerns to members of Parliament about why legislation has again been drafted on matters that directly affect CFA volunteers – drafted without volunteer consultation and results in intentional or unintended blockers to volunteers contributing to public value and performing work important to their local communities. Work they are more than capable and best placed to perform.
Volunteers call on all Parties to match Liberal Nationals’ promise on Presumptive Legislation
Written by Adam Barnett
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) CEO Andrew Ford has welcomed today’s Liberal Nationals commitment to immediately introduce stand-alone presumptive legislation that does not discriminate between paid and volunteer firefighters and called on all sides of politics to commit to the same.
“Sadly, Victoria is the only Australian State that does not provide presumptive rights to firefighters if they are impacted by one of the cancers recognized as being linked with their work,” Mr. Ford said.
“Today’s commitment from the Liberal National opposition to right this wrong is very, very welcome.”
“VFBV has been advocating for this specific outcome since before the 2014 State Election and have consistently argued that the health and safety of our firefighters should be a priority, above politics.”
“We congratulate Matthew Guy for his commitment to urgently protect all firefighters equally and we call on every other political leader to immediately make the same public pledge.”
“More than three years after the last election promise, presumptive cancer legislation was introduced to Parliament at Easter this year, but it didn’t pass for two important reasons.”
“Firstly, the Bill treated volunteer and paid firefighters differently and set conditions for volunteers that meant many who contract cancer would not have been able to access compensation.”
“The other reason that Bill failed to achieve the support of the majority of MP’s was that it combined the Government’s completely separate, highly political plan to carve up the CFA.”
“Combining the issues not only doomed the presumptive cancer provisions to fail but was also seen by many innocent firefighters as a cynical attempt to use their health as a political bargaining chip.”
“As firefighters across Victoria prepare for a high-risk fire season, the least they should be offered is the knowledge that if they contract cancer as a result, a simple and equitable system will look after them and their families without the need for the complex legal battles the last Bill would have required.”
“All emergency workers deserve the greatest respect, especially volunteers who leave their homes and families to protect those of others without payment.”
“Every political leader should demonstrate that respect today by committing to support stand-alone, unambiguous, no tricks presumptive cancer legislation that does not discriminate between paid and volunteer firefighters as the first item on the Notice Paper of the next Parliament,” Mr. Ford ended
The October Newsletter is now available. Click here to view the October 2018 edition.
You can view all previous editions by visiting the Archives available by clicking here. (Click on the Months Heading after you go to this page - to expand that months content.)
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This year’s volunteer survey is in its final days. Have you done it yet?
Help us help you and complete the survey today. There has never been a more important time for volunteers to have a say.
The survey continues to be an important and reliable method to capture the views of volunteers and track what has been achieved and is improving, as well as addressing areas that are the cause of dissatisfaction for volunteers.
The VFBV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey is an annual snapshot of volunteer opinion, which includes 33 questions on issues chosen by CFA volunteers. Last year over 2,600 CFA volunteers took part in the survey and over 7,700 volunteers took part across our interstate surveys. Your comments are confidential, but the results go straight to the decision makers.
The survey will take 10 – 15 minutes to complete and is open until close of business on Monday 22 October 2018.
For the third year, the Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey is being offered to volunteers from fire agencies from across Australia. They survey has been a success in Victoria since 2012 and is being offered to fire service volunteers again in 2018 through each state’s representative associations as part of the Council of Australian Volunteer Fire Associations (CAVFA).
The survey was developed by VFBV, to address a significant gap in the information available to the state’s decision maker, and over the years has been become an unmatched guide to trends in volunteer opinions.
Your comments are confidential, and your input is vital.
Take the survey today and tell your friends and fellow Brigade members: https://www.vfbv.com.au/cfa or direct via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2018vfbvsurvey
Members would be aware from previous updates, that VFBV has been requesting that CFA provide an update for the Uniden Scanners (Listening Sets) that will update the scanners with all the new CFA/DELWP radio channel mapping, talk groups and fireground channels.
Due to the high number of changes, VFBV requested if this update could be rolled into a firmware update that is required to update the scanners to overcome the ‘super grouping’ issue that was identified last year, to save members having to do multiple updates. Last year’s outage resulted in all scanners ‘going quiet’ for a couple of days when a proprietary P25 ‘super group’ codec was unexpectedly rolled out to the network last year.
We are pleased to report that CFA has worked with Uniden to release a patch that will update the firmware and includes all the new CFA/DELWP channel mapping.
A summary of the changes available by installing the patch are:
- Upgraded Firmware to enable the use of Supergrouping of the RMR Network.
- Added new RMR sites serving Districts 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17 & 27.
- Added the RMR Fire Ground Talkgroups to Districts 7, 8, 13 & 14.
- Updated RMR Site Control Frequencies that were changed.
- Added new CFA Incident Management Channels (IMC's) including recent channel changes.
- Removed the CFA RMR Command & Control groups from each District profile as these are not current.
- Removed the Analogue channel numbers from all the CFA Channel Names.
- Added NAC's to initial local District Fireground channels.
- Updated the DEWLP Incident Channels for each District to reflect the P25 upgrade of DELWP Incident Channels.
- Updated the DEWLP Fire Ground Channels for each District.
This patch can be downloaded from here: https://www.uniden.com.au/product/ubcd436pt-au/#1508302157496-9588945a-630b
Full instructions and a step-by step guide to downloading the software can be found at the bottom of this page, called "Uniden Software Download Instructions" as well as a guide to updating the Scanner.
VFBV delegates to the Joint Communications and Technology Committee have congratulated CFA on the simple method for the update and thanked both CFA representatives and Uniden for their combined efforts, which has resulted in a positive outcome for members.
CFA advise members they need to apply the update prior to November 1st in order to coincide with planned network updates.
In other but related news, CFA has advised VFBV that its contract with the Australian supplier for the discounted Uniden Scanners has now ended, and CFA will not be accepting any further orders. Any additional sets will now need to be sourced by members locally. VFBV has advised CFA that there is likely to be renewed interest in additional sets with the forthcoming digital rollout of CFA digital comms to the outer metropolitan areas (District 7, 8, 13 and 14), and we will continue to monitor interest levels for additional subsidy programs in the future. Since the joint Digital Scanner initiative was announced by CFA and VFBV back in 2015, we are pleased to report that over 11,000 digital scanners have been distributed across 970 Brigades and 80 Groups, closing a hugely successful and collaborative approach between the two organisations.
Expressions of interest are now being sought from members wishing to participate in the VFBV/CFA Joint Committee’s for the 2019 calendar year. VFBV delegates to these Committees are comprised of State Councillors and subject matter experts. Subject matter experts are sought each year, and are nominated through VFBV District Councils, and then endorsed by State Council at their December meeting.
When evaluating nominations, District Council's have been requested to consider the following nominees have:
- a desire and the time to commit to the State level committee process. (This means a minimum of four meetings per year at CFA H.Q. Burwood. (Held on either a Saturday or a Sunday.
- relevant subject matter expertise and experience to be able to actively contribute to the Committee’s work.
- the confidence and support of their District Council that they will be a constructive contributor to the Committee’s work.
- a sufficient network outside their own Brigade, that would allow them to network and ensure their views are not just their own, but is informed and representative of the views in your District.
Any questions on the process, required experience and subject matter expertise can be sought from your State Councillors, District Council Executive members, or VFBV Support Officer’s. Applications are due late October, with each District Council responsible for their own prioritisation and advertising process. If you are interested in contributing to these important Committee’s please discuss with your District Council as soon as possible, to ensure your nomination can be considered by the due date.
VEOHRC Independent Review report release update – Court of Appeal judgement Thursday 4th October 2018
Written by VFBV
Throughout the past year volunteers have been querying when the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) Independent Review into Equity and Diversity in CFA and MFB will be released.
To recap, the VEOHRC Independent Review into equity and diversity in CFA and MFB was conducted in late 2016 and much welcomed by VFBV and volunteers across CFA, with an expectation that the final report would be released early in 2017.
It was with much disappointment that we learned in mid-2017 that the report could not be released due to action instigated by the UFU in the Supreme Court seeking to prevent VEOHRC releasing its report publicly. The report was originally on track for release in about July 2017 but has been held up due to the UFU legal action blocking its release.
Despite the Supreme Court providing a decision in early December 2017 dismissing the UFU application and confirming that the VEOHRC has acted within its powers in undertaking the work the report was still not released because following the Supreme Court dismissal of UFU’s application, in mid-January 2018 the UFU took further legal action appealing the Supreme Court decision in the Court of Appeal. The case was heard by the Court of Appeal in April 2018 and advised it would issue its decision at a later date.
Subsequently the report has still not been released as at today.
VEOHRC have now written to VFBV informing us that the Court of Appeal has advised that United Firefighters Union Australia v. Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission & Anor has been listed for judgment this week at 10am on Thursday, 4 October 2018.
VEOHRC have advised that the commission will attend Court to receive the decision and will then be in touch as soon as possible after the decision has been handed down to notify us of the outcome.
The anxiety and frustration the delay is causing, particularly to people who participated in the review, is understood. VFBV will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further advice as soon as a decision is known. I encourage anyone who needs support because of the process associated with the release of this report to contact VEOHRC on 9032 3464 or visit the VEOHRC website https://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/home/our-projects-a-initiatives/independent-review-cfa-and-mfb and follow the prompts to be targeted to the appropriate support; seek support from our VFBV network; and/or discuss your concerns with your local networks.
