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Professional Firefighters Back Greens Draft Bill to Expand Cancer Protection Under Presumptive Legislation

MEDIA RELEASE
July 2023

Professional firefighters have called for the Andrews Government to support the Victorian Greens draft Bill, which would expand the number of cancers included under presumptive cancer legislation by nine, bringing it in line with Commonwealth Law.

United Firefighters Union Victorian Branch Secretary Peter Marshall said the Bill would add an expanded
range of cancers critical to protecting women under presumptive legislation, including cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer.

“The reality is that more and more women are choosing to become professional firefighters and it’s
absolutely critical that from the outset, they receive protection from cancer-related illness due to the
unavoidable risk they face. On a daily basis, professional firefighters are exposed to a range of deadly toxins absorbed through their skin. The inclusion of additional cancers such as lung, skin, penile, pancreatic, thyroid cancer and mesothelioma is necessary to ensure that firefighters receive the medical and financial support they need when they develop these cancers as a result of their work”

Mr Marshall said that in July 2022, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) officially declared firefighting a cancer-causing profession. This move had
significant implications for how cancer is managed by firefighters and fire services across the world,
including Australia.

“In July last year, The World Health Organization officially declared firefighting a cancer-causing profession. It’s now up to the Victorian Government to ensure that professional firefighters have laws that fully support them when they develop cancer due to their work. That’s why we call on the Victorian Government to fully support the Greens Bill.”

On another matter, Mr Marshall also said
“an urgent Parliamentary Inquiry was required to investigate the undermining of presumptive cancer laws by the Andrews Government last year. “The presumptive cancer legislation that supports professional firefighters is underpinned by comprehensive scientific medical research, which establishes the link between the occupation of firefighting and cancer. By ignoring that scientific evidence and expanding presumptive cancer legislation to non-firefighters, the Andrews Government is putting the integrity of those laws at risk. “That’s why we need an urgent Parliamentary Inquiry into the Andrews Government’s trashing of presumptive cancer legislation in Victoria.”

UFU Victorian Secretary Peter Marshall is available for interview and comment Media Contact: Darren Rodrigo 0414 783 405


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