The release of the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) report into the culture within Ambulance Victoria means Daniel Andrews and the United Firefighters Union (UFU) have nowhere left to hide.
For more than three years, the Andrews Labor Government and UFU management have fought tooth and nail to keep VEOHRC’s report into systemic bullying in the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) secret.
They have ignored calls from the public. They have ignored motions from the Victorian Legislative Council. They have ignored pleas from former fire services members who want the issues made public. Instead, they continue to bury the report.
Victorians will never get the emergency fire services they deserve whilst cultural problems continue to be hidden and swept under the carpet.
You don’t fix a problem by putting your head in the sand, you fix a problem by acknowledging it and then dealing with it.
Instead or more cover-ups and spin, Daniel Andrews must release VEOHRC’s report into fire services today.
As stated by Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Brad Battin:
“For too long, the Andrews Labor Government have hidden a report that would help improve Victoria’s fire services.
“Labor and the UFU should be working their hardest to hear the victims and ensure the culture is improved, not working to silence the victims.
“Daniel Andrews must release VEOHRC’s report into fire services today so Victorians can get the emergency support they deserve.”
