Firefighters dispute: what's it all about?
Firefighters union and the CFA have been locked in a bitter industrial dispute for more than three years, with politics only stoking the flames.
PT1M52S 620 349The defiant CFA board has formally been sacked with five replacements already announced, Emergency Services Minister James Merlino has
announced.
The former board was sacked by email, half an hour after Mr Merlino announced the new one.
Emergency Services Minister, James Merlino has announced the new CFA board while at the Cranbourne CFA station. Photo: Jason South
Speaking at Cranbourne CFA station on Friday the minister said former Fair Work Commissioner Greg Smith would be the new chair.
Former chief executive of the bushfire recovery authority Pam White will also serve on the board, alongside Dr Gillian Starks and Simon
Weir.
Chief executive and partner at Cornwall Stodart lawyers Michelle McLean will serve as deputy.
"The old board has been replaced, today is about turning a new leaf," Mr Merlino said.
The CFA Act states that the board should be made up of nine people, including four volunteer representatives.
The four volunteers are yet to be nominated, but the minister said the board was now operational.
The opposition quickly moved to put pressure on the new board threatening that, if it won the next election in 2018, it would be sacked if it endorsed the deal.
"If this board of Daniel Andrews stooges accepts the EBA, then an elected Liberal Nationals government will sack this board after the next election," Shadow Emergency Services minister Brad Battin said.
"This is not a fresh start, this is a political stitch-up by a bully.
More to come
