News

Emergency Services | November 01, 2018

Labor’s latest attack on the CFA

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy has slammed the Andrews Labor Government for continuing its relentless attack on the CFA, this time with amendments to plumbing regulations that will come into effect on 18 November 2018.

Under the Andrews Labor Government Plumbing Regulations Sunset Review, a recommendation was made that individuals employed to conduct routine maintenance inspections on fire service items and products will no longer be able to conduct ‘routine maintenance’ if they do not carry a relevant plumbing qualification.

“There are 260 CFA brigades that undertake recharging of extinguishers and servicing of their reels and there are 9,000 customers and 28,500 hose reels,” Ms Kealy said.

“These individuals have been trained and carry decades of valuable experience and they wilI now be forced out of the industry, leaving a short fall of people to carry out vital safety inspections.

“The inconvenience and cost of these new and completely unnecessary regulations will have significant consequences for our brigades.

“This is another blatant example of ‘jobs for the boys’ by Daniel Andrews and his government that is beholden to the UFU,” she said.

Ms Kealy said the Liberal Nationals have stood side by side with the CFA over the past four years of a city centric Labor Government, and we will stand firmly with them again on this issue.

“If elected on 24 November the Liberal Nationals will amend the plumbing regulations to ensure that a plumbing qualification will not be required to carry out routine maintenance inspections on fire service items and products,” Ms Kealy said.