By Michael Koziol and Josh Gordon
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party will deliver Malcolm Turnbull a key win in the Senate this week, ushering through industrial relations changes to "safeguard" volunteer firefighters in the wake of the CFA dispute.
The proposed amendments to the Fair Work Act will make it unlawful for any enterprise agreements to "undermine" volunteers, and strike out any existing provisions deemed to do so.
The legislation, announced by Mr Turnbull during the federal election campaign, follows a long-running stoush over an industrial deal backed by the Andrews Government that critics fear will undermine volunteers and allow the union to interfere in CFA management decisions.
A separate industrial agreement with the MFB has created similar worries. On Monday, MFB deputy chief officer David Youssef quit after about 30 years. In a message to staff, MFB chief executive chief executive Jim Higgins said Mr Youssef would be leaving later this month "to pursue new opportunities".
Senator Michaelia Cash hugs Senator Pauline Hanson after her first speech to the Senate in September.Credit: Andrew Meares
That followed the resignation of MFB chief officer Peter Rau in September. The Andrews government initially tried to fob his departure off as being the result of ill health. But the claim backfired after Mr Rau's wife Tracey said in a letter he had quit after being bullied by the union.
That followed a slew of resignations from the CFA.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Victoria's fire services were in a crisis and a mess on the eve of the bushfire season after numerous departures. "There has now been around 300 years' worth of emergency services experience that has departed our fire services," he said.
The federal legislation, which is being opposed by Labor and the Greens, is now set to sail through the Senate with the help of Ms Hanson's right-wing party after she promised to support it on Monday.
"I think the unions have overstepped the mark here," she told ABC radio. "I think it's important that we do support the government's position on this."
There are claims that the legislation, which would potentially be challenged in court after a Fair Work referral, has more to do with politics than good policy. Police, paramedics and nurses have criticised the change, warning that forcing them to consider volunteers in industrial agreements could undermine their work.
Mr Turnbull and a mob of frontbenchers, including Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, posed for pictures with CFA volunteers in Canberra on Monday morning as the Senate prepared to consider the amendments.
One Nation's four senators will give the government the numbers to pass the bill, which already enjoys the support of the Nick Xenophon trio, Bob Day, Derryn Hinch and David Leyonhjelm.
There is nothing more asinine or debilitating than a nanny state
Separately, Queensland One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts released a statement pledging his own support for the CFA bill, which he billed as a battle of "freedom versus control".
"There is nothing more asinine or debilitating than a nanny state," he said.
Victorian Emergency Services Minister James Merlino thanked Mr Youssef, saying he had been a committed and dedicated firefighter for more than 30 years.
The victory will give the Turnbull government some comfort that it can negotiate with the messy Senate and its enormous crossbench of 20, including nine Greens senators. The government requires the support of both the Nick Xenophon Team and One Nation to pass any bills blocked by both Labor and the Greens.
"We are now at the point where the Senate has to decide," Mr Turnbull told CFA volunteers assembled in the ministerial courtyard on Monday.
"We stand shoulder to shoulder with you. You and your fellow firefighters keep us safe in the face of the inferno of summer."