PM backs volunteer firefighters in dispute with union.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has vowed to amend the Fair Work Act and back Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers in their dispute with the firefighters union.
Back up. What’s the dispute?
Well, volunteers are concerned about an enterprise bargaining agreement demand to have at least seven paid firefighters on the scene of every incident, and prevent volunteers issuing orders. The proposal would need to be ratified by the state Cabinet, which meets today.
The PM attended a rally in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, where hundreds of volunteer firefighters gathered to protest the proposal.
“It’s an extraordinary assault on fundamental Australian values of community service, of volunteerism,” Mr Turnbull said.
“But if we’re re-elected, we’ll rectify it …. There would be changes to the Fair Work Act that would relate to what would be objectionable or unacceptable clauses in EBAs.”
The United Firefighters Union Victoria said earlier in the week the matter had been politicised and that volunteers acting as incident controllers would still have the capacity to give orders.
Labor to announce more childcare funding.
Federal Labor will today pledge $160 million to tackle child care and after-school care waiting lists.
If elected, Labor would:
- Invest $100 million over three years to expand about 300 childcare services in areas of high demand
- Commit $63.2 million to establish or expand after-school care via grants worth up to $50,000
Didn’t Labor already announce child care changes?