Firefighters presumptive rights
Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:25): (150) My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. Minister, during debate on the Forests Amendment (Forest Firefighters Presumptive Rights Compensation) Bill 2021 former member Tania Maxwell put forward amendments to include three female-specific cancers on the list of cancers included in the presumptive rights for firefighters. In exchange for Ms Maxwell not putting her amendments to a vote, the minister at the table gave assurances that you would work towards the inclusion of female-specific cancers in the scheme. Two years later there is still not a single female-specific cancer listed on the schedule of cancers eligible for presumptive compensation. Minister, when will the government extend presumptive rights for compensation to both CFA volunteer and FRV career firefighters for female-specific cancers?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:25): I thank Ms Lovell for her question. It is a really important issue, but there are a few facts that people like to forget, and some of those facts include that they were members of cabinet when it considered these issues – part of a team that, despite international evidence, would say, ‘We are not convinced that there is a direct link between cancer and firefighters.’ Ms Lovell, you were a member of the cabinet when the former coalition government had opportunities to implement presumptive rights for firefighters, and you squibbed it at the time. So it is an important context.
Georgie Crozier: On a point of order, President, I know the minister is going back in time. The point is that you have been in government for eight years. This question was directly related to something that occurred more recently than when Ms Lovell was in a previous government. So I ask you, President, to ask the minister to come back to Ms Lovell’s question.
The PRESIDENT: I will ask the minister to come back to Ms Lovell’s question.
Jaclyn SYMES: Thank you, President. Context is important, because when we were in opposition – I know it was a long time ago, absolutely – we committed from opposition to implement presumptive rights –
Wendy Lovell: On a point of order, President, I believe the minister is flouting your ruling. My question was specific to female-specific cancers, and as Ms Crozier pointed out, the government have been in government for over eight years now, they have had plenty of time and this commitment was given two years ago. When are you going to implement this?
The PRESIDENT: A point of order is not an opportunity to ask the question again, but I will uphold it. I ask the minister to get back to the question.
Jaclyn SYMES: I think the history of presumptive rights is important, because it is something we continue to build on. In relation to the commitment that we gave, irrespective of what you guys did, we then implemented that through legislation, which I think some people in this room opposed at the time. Finally we got presumptive rights through. We expanded it to forest fire workers; we expanded it to mechanics. Women firefighters are not excluded from the issue. We are talking about other specific cancers, and I have certainly given the commitment to advance that. The department has been formally consulting on expanding the scope of the protections, and that consultation is nearly finished. I am not in a position to make announcements today, but when I do make announcements I look forward to bipartisan support because of your renewed passion for an issue you could have done when you had the opportunity.
Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:28): So there has been no work in two years. Minister, last week I took part in Fire Rescue Victoria’s Fire Ops 101. During the day great care was taken to ensure that we were not exposed to the carcinogenic risks associated with fires. Caitlin and Michaela, the two FRV firefighters who were buddies to Jack Gatto and me, were young and female. They were also highly skilled, dedicated, passionate, kind, caring and patient, which are all skills needed to be excellent first responders. Minister, why does the Andrews Labor government discriminate against female firefighters by including male-specific cancers in the schedule but not female-specific cancers?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:29): I answered the question in relation to work on this important matter being underway, and I look forward to providing an update in due course – just not today.