Firefighters call for cancer recognition

VOLUNTEER firefighters in Tooradin and Berwick are putting pressure on the government to simplify legislation for CFA members who have been struck down by cancer.
Under current Victorian law, firefighters who have contracted cancer from smoke or chemical exposure are required to prove which fire or chemical incident caused the illness.
The CFA wants the state to adopt presumptive legislation, already in force across the majority of states, which lists 12 cancers typical to firefighters and presumes them to be work-related.
Petitions have been signed across Casey and the Cardinia Shire and Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin has also met with CFA members and signed a pledge in support of presumptive legislation.
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) raised concern about the lack of detail in the proposed legislation, including whether it will apply retrospectively and if it will treat volunteer and career firefighters equally.
Victorian CFA volunteers have suggested oesophageal cancer, brain cancer, leukaemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and myeloma be covered by compensation assessed based on years of service.
If the legislation is brought in, firefighters’ claims can still be rejected if it can be proved that the cancer was not related to firefighting duties.
The State Government is working through policy details with VFBV and the United Fire-fighters Union.