THOUSANDS of CFA volunteers have rallied at the Treasury Gardens to defy a union
bid to have greater control over the organisation.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told 3500 volunteers firefighters and supporters at the rally he would block the planned union takeover of the CFA if he was re-elected on July 2.
The PM received a rock-star welcome at the Melbourne rally, with thousands of volunteers in uniform chanting his name and CFA volunteers telling Federal MPs they will campaign against Labor on polling day.
THOUSANDS of CFA volunteers have rallied at the Treasury Gardens to defy a union bid to have greater control over the organisation.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told 3500 volunteers firefighters and supporters at the rally he would block the planned union takeover of the CFA if he was re-elected on July 2.
The PM received a rock-star welcome at the Melbourne rally, with thousands of volunteers in uniform chanting his name and CFA volunteers telling Federal MPs they will campaign against Labor on polling day.
Mr Andrews is understood to be privately scathing of Jane Garrett, who resigned as emergency services minister on Friday, but party insiders are shocked by the Premier’s handling of the dispute and confused about his motivations in backing the UFU.
“Why would you be prepared to lose the CFA board, a minister and the goodwill of country people for a bully like (UFU secretary) Peter Marshall?” said one.
Jockeying has begun to replace Ms Garrett in the ministry. Mary-Anne Thomas and Gayle Tierney, both from senator Kim Carr’s half of the Socialist Left faction, are thought to be candidates.
The “moderate Labor” grouping, run by former minister Adem Somyurek, is understood to be pushing for Marlene Kairouz.
Garth Head, a former ALP adviser working with Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, said the VFBV was not taking a political stance but “the anger coming through is overwhelming, and building”. The government’s struggles to find a replacement board were complicated yesterday by the revelation that the CFA Act, and normal practice, dictates that the VFBV chooses nominees for their skills, and they are not controlled by the volunteer body, but the chances are they would also oppose the EBA because it hurts volunteer interests.
Insiders have warned it will be a tough task finding new CFA board members prepared to “trash” their reputation by supporting the deal and then firing chief executive Lucinda Nolan.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told 3500 volunteers firefighters and supporters at the rally he would block the planned union takeover of the CFA if he was re-elected on July 2.
The PM received a rock-star welcome at the Melbourne rally, with thousands of volunteers in uniform chanting his name and CFA volunteers telling Federal MPs they will campaign against Labor on polling day.
THOUSANDS of CFA volunteers have rallied at the Treasury Gardens to defy a union bid to have greater control over the organisation.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told 3500 volunteers firefighters and supporters at the rally he would block the planned union takeover of the CFA if he was re-elected on July 2.
The PM received a rock-star welcome at the Melbourne rally, with thousands of volunteers in uniform chanting his name and CFA volunteers telling Federal MPs they will campaign against Labor on polling day.
Mr Andrews is understood to be privately scathing of Jane Garrett, who resigned as emergency services minister on Friday, but party insiders are shocked by the Premier’s handling of the dispute and confused about his motivations in backing the UFU.
“Why would you be prepared to lose the CFA board, a minister and the goodwill of country people for a bully like (UFU secretary) Peter Marshall?” said one.
Jockeying has begun to replace Ms Garrett in the ministry. Mary-Anne Thomas and Gayle Tierney, both from senator Kim Carr’s half of the Socialist Left faction, are thought to be candidates.
The “moderate Labor” grouping, run by former minister Adem Somyurek, is understood to be pushing for Marlene Kairouz.
Garth Head, a former ALP adviser working with Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, said the VFBV was not taking a political stance but “the anger coming through is overwhelming, and building”. The government’s struggles to find a replacement board were complicated yesterday by the revelation that the CFA Act, and normal practice, dictates that the VFBV chooses nominees for their skills, and they are not controlled by the volunteer body, but the chances are they would also oppose the EBA because it hurts volunteer interests.
Insiders have warned it will be a tough task finding new CFA board members prepared to “trash” their reputation by supporting the deal and then firing chief executive Lucinda Nolan.
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