MEDIA RELEASE
June 9, 2023
The Andrews Government has sold out Victoria’s professional firefighters by announcing that it would only add three cancers instead of eight cancers to presumptive legislation to protect professional firefighters, putting Victoria entirely out of step with the Federal Government.
United Firefighters Union Victorian Branch Secretary Peter Marshall said that the announcement was
duplicitous and no more than a political stunt.
“While they pretend to protect female firefighters by adding three new cancers, they fail to protect female
firefighters who develop thyroid, pancreatic, skin, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. “This announcement is little more than a political stunt designed to make the Andrews Government look
good. It has absolutely no substance. Minister Jaclyn Symes gives with one hand and takes away with another. A firefighter is a firefighter, and they should not be discriminated against based on their gender.
The Andrews Government announced it would only add cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers to Victoria’s
presumptive legislation. In contrast, Federal legislation covers the additional cancers of thyroid, pancreatic, skin, penile and lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma. As a result, Victorian firefighters will not have the same cancer protection afforded to aviation firefighters working at Tullamarine or Avalon airports”.
Mr Marshall said the Andrew’s Government’s announcement deeply disappointed Victorian firefighters.
“The Andrew’s Government’s decision completely abandons all professional firefighters who develop
thyroid, pancreatic, skin, penile, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma as a result of their work.
“It is also entirely inconsistent with contemporary scientific studies that demonstrate that these cancers are caused by firefighting, and it’s completely inconsistent with Federal legislation. As a result of today’s announcement, Victoria’s professional firefighters will be left with a second-rate, substandard set of presumptive cancer laws, and frankly, that’s a disgraceful way to treat firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect the community that they serve”.
Mr Marshall said that in July last year, the World Health Organization officially declared firefighting a
cancer-causing profession. The Federal Government have since extended their presumptive cancer
legislation to protect firefighters if they develop one of 20 types of cancer. Other States and Territories will
shortly follow.
“This decision of the Andrews Government is non-sensical and opportunistic and directly contradicts the
World Health Organization’s findings. The Andrews Government’s announcement today was a political
stunt. The United Firefighters Union yesterday called on the Andrews Government to replicate the non-partisan model established federally, as demonstrated by Federal member Adam Bandt MP and Senator David Pocock in 2022, and to support the full list of cancers put forward by the Victorian Greens earlier this week”.
This is not a political issue. Including the full list of firefighter, cancers is the morally right thing to do for the firefighters who sacrifice quantity and quality of life due to entering burning buildings.” Firefighters will also be available for media comment.
Media Contact: Darren Rodrigo 0414 783 405