Andrews: Anti-corruption watchdog investigation

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Andrews fends off questions he is key focus of anti-corruption watchdog investigation.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews refused to be drawn on reports he has been a key focus of an anti-corruption investigation into ties between the United Firefighters Union (UFU) and the Victorian government, during a fiery press conference on Wednesday.
Jonathan Talbot
October 6, 2021

In 2016, volunteer anger over a workplace agreement for professional firefighters in the CFA spilled over into the federal election.

Then-minister Jane Garrett and a swag of senior firefighting officials also quit their posts in protest at changes to conditions sought by the United Firefighters Union.

Management warned that the union demands meant that it would lose effective control of decision making through so-called "veto" clauses — the union said it was standard consultation provision designed to protect firefighter safety.

Throughout the debate, firefighters have argued the changes are about improving community and firefighter safety.

Ms Garrett called some of the demands outrageous but an intervention from the Premier in 2016 backed in the union's position.

Turf wars between professional and volunteer firefighters are not new but relations hit a new low in 2016 with fears that Labor's push to have more career firefighters would undermine their work.

This antagonism contributed to a toxic culture across the fire services, but an investigation into the full scale of workplace culture including sexism, discrimination and bullying by Victoria's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner was sensationally suppressed by the UFU in the Court of Appeal.

The Turnbull government seized on this tension and passed new workplace laws to give volunteers a say in the workplace agreement between paid firefighters and the CFA. These laws stymied the agreement's progression.

This federal law, in part, triggered the reforms because it separates volunteers and professionals, meaning the federal laws are moot.

Which side is Daniel Andrews on?

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was originally against the UFU when it came to the deal’s veto proposal, but he changed his mind after a meeting with UFU boss Peter Marshall without Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett.

Structural changes to Victoria's fire brigades have left many CFA volunteers in Benalla and across the state feeling angry and ignored.

Victoria's Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville officially announced the changes on June 18.

This came as a shock to many within CFA who, despite knowing changes were coming, thought a process of consultation would take place to offer insight and advice from those on the front-line regarding a new structure.

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV), the peak body representing CFA volunteers in the state, has gone so far as to accuse the Andrews Government of ignoring legislation which requires it to consult volunteers over any changes which impact them.

[...]

In a strongly worded email to volunteers earlier this month, VFBV chief executive Adam Barnett said the Victorian Government had broken its promises to volunteers.

“We have worked incredibly hard to honour our commitment to good faith discussions, and resisted provocation after provocation,” Mr Barnett said.

“For several months now we have been escalating our growing concerns and disappointment, all of which have been met by a wall of silence or indifference.”

It would not surprise me in the least if there was something dodgy happening behind that deal with the union (BTW, I posted about this yesterday - https://wrongplanet.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=400589).

Tim Smith slams Dan Andrews ‘unhinged’ attempts to dodge questions about IBAC inquiry

Victoria’s Shadow Attorney-General Tim Smith has blasted Premier Daniel Andrews for “stonewalling” journalists and “abusing the opposition” when asked about the IBAC probe.
Brianna McKee
Digital Reporter

Premier Daniel Andrews has come under fire for refusing to answer questions about a long-running IBAC investigation into ties between the United Firefighter Union (UFU) and his government.

Shadow Attorney-General and Kew MP Tim Smith said Mr Andrews must “explain” his involvement in the inquiry launched by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

In an interview with Sky News Australia, Mr Smith claimed the Victorian Premier’s response to questions from the press and political opponents was “unhinged”.

“In the parliament he was abusing the opposition every time we asked a perfectly reasonable question about whether or not he was under investigation,” Mr Smith said.