News Fair protection for firefighters
As the CFA volunteers' association, VFBV is campaigning for a change to Victorian law to give CFA volunteer firefighters and their career colleagues simpler and fairer access to cancer compensation.
Click on these links to learn;
- Why we need Presumptive Legislation – the Firefighters’ Cancer Law
- Campaign achievements so
- What volunteers can do now
- How the public can help
- What Members of Parliament can do
Ready to help? Contact your local MP and ask them to support the Firefighters Cancer Law, or click here to make a donation to support the campaign.
Why we need Presumptive Legislation – the Firefighters’ Cancer Law
Scientific research shows that firefighters are more likely to contract certain types of cancer.
Current Victorian arrangements already provide for cancer compensation, but it is almost impossible to access because the firefighter has to prove the cancer was caused by one particular fire or incident – an incident that might have happened 10 or 15 years ago.
Presumptive legislation would work by reversing the onus of proof – the firefighter’s cancer would be presumed to be work related provided the firefighter has sufficient years of service.
Presumption allows the firefighter to concentrate on treatment and recovery, instead of a lengthy and expensive court case.
CFA volunteer firefighters and their career colleagues are not asking for new compensation, just the removal of an almost impossible barrier to accessing their existing entitlements.
For more details, you can download;
VFBV’s Notes for Volunteers or
The campaign so far
VFBV has campaigned since early 2011 for a change in Victorian law that gives CFA volunteers and their career colleagues fairer access to cancer compensation.
We have briefed Victorian MPs on both sides of Parliament, raised the issue publicly and among volunteers, and watched as the Australian Parliament, then the Tasmanian, West Australian and South Australian Parliaments all passed presumptive legislation to cover some of their firefighters.
Victoria still lags behind
While concern has grown and other Governments have accepted the scientific evidence, the Victorian Government has claimed it is waiting for further research from Monash University, even though the Monash researchers have said “…We are concerned that decisions about presumptive legislation are being delayed pending our study’s findings. We believe that there is already good evidence from a very large number of previous human studies that work as a firefighter is associated with an increased risk of several types cancer...”
The State Government introduced a new Firefighters’ Assessment Panel, claiming it would “ensure prompt, compassionate and fair claims assessment for firefighters”. VFBV has given the Panel nine months to prove itself, only to find the panel process only adds extra bureaucracy, gives no assistance to the sick volunteer and does not remove the unfair burden of proof on the firefighter.
What volunteers can do now
- Raise the firefighters’ cancer law issue with your local Member of Parliament, in your local media and online.
- Make a donation to the Trust Fund to support the campaign – click here for notes on the Trust Fund and how it helps our efforts to achieve simpler and fairer cancer compensation for firefighters
Any contact with your local MP will do; write a formal letter, send a simple email, ask for a meeting at their office or mention the issue whenever you see them.
Your Brigade, Group and volunteers can donate to the Trust Fund, as well as promoting it among the public;
- Visit www.vfbv.com.au to make a donation by credit card or PayPal
- Send a cheque to; The Volunteer Fire Fighters Occupational Illnesses (VFFOI) Awareness and Protection Fund, PO Box 453, Mt Waverley 3149
- Transfer funds to VFBV’s Bendigo Bank account; BSB 633-000 Account Number 151841970
If your Brigade needs assistance and it is appropriate, VFBV can provide support in publicising the fundraising effort within your local community.
Do you, or someone you know who is or has been a volunteer firefighter, suffer from one of the firefighter
occupational cancers? Let us know and we can advise you of potential next steps
What the public can do to help
Learn more about the Firefighters’ Cancer Law - click here to read our VFBV Notes for Volunteers
Make a donation to the Trust Fund to support our campaign - click here to read how the Trust Fund can help achieve this important change to the law.
Raise the firefighters’ cancer law issue with your local Member of Parliament, in your local media and online – it’s a great way to show support for your local CFA volunteers.
What CFA volunteers need Members of Parliament to do now
We call on all Victorian MPs for their active support for presumptive legislation to simplify access to cancer compensation for firefighters.
We are asking all Victorian MPs to take up the issue, and we ask those who don’t support presumptive legislation to explain why they do not.
VFBV communicates progress on this issue to our members and the general public, there's a summary of MPs’ responses to a letter from VFBV available on this website.
