In Victoria, “Creating our future together” means slashing 164 positions in the Country Fire Authority

As Australia enters their bushfire season, there is a report that the Country Fire Authority in Victoria will eliminate 164 positions.

Below is an excerpt from an article at 9news.com.au:

…CFA documents obtained by the Herald Sun reveal close to 10 percent of the organisation’s paid staff will be cut.

The restructure, called Creating Our Future Together, will save the CFA $16 million annually.

CFA spokesman Gerard Scholten said no frontline firefighters positions would be cut. But 71 roles in “Fire and Emergency Management” are to be axed, 16 of which have already been cut. Business services will lose 59 positions, operational training and volunteerism 20, people and culture 7, and communities and communication 1.

United Firefighters Union Victorian Secretary Peter Marshall said he was “gobsmacked” when he found out about the job cuts. Many of the positions being cut lent critical support to firefighters during bushfires, he said.

“It is inconceivable that on the back of a royal commission into the loss of 173 lives, heading into what we now know to be another potentially catastrophic fire season you actually have an organisation that is downsizing critical positions,” Mr Marshall said.

A CFA spokesperson said most cutbacks, in back office positions, were due to the completion of projects stemming from the Victorian bushfires royal commission.

“All were by natural attrition or the completion of contracts,” the spokesperson said on Monday.

“The process is about putting CFA on a more efficient, sustainable footing and living within its means.”

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.