Burns cancelled over industrial dispute
Victorian government lethargy in refusing to negotiate with its Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning forest fighting force over a new enterprise agreement (EA) that would recognise their role as emergency service workers has led to bans on planned burns from next week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s been more than four months since the state government even agreed to sit down with the EA negotiating team, which can only be interpreted as disregard, even contempt for these men and women who risk their lives for the state every fire season.
It’s been more than four months since the state government even agreed to sit down with the EA negotiating team, which can only be interpreted as disregard, even contempt for these men and women who risk their lives for the state every fire season.
This government appears too lethargic to respond to issues that are taken very seriously by our members and the people of regional Victoria in particular.
Notice would be given to the department today of action that would ban planned burns on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as an indefinite stop on falling trees for firewood, and a ban on cleaning toilets and collecting rubbish in picnic areas.
The decision to take this action was made after protracted attempts to advance negotiations. There is no way that these fine men and women would act without deep consideration first, and the greatest of regret.
It is simply reprehensible that the matters these negotiations raise have not been made top priority, particularly when we are told we are facing an ‘above normal’ fire danger in the coming season.
The fact that these forest firefighters were not categorised as delivering an emergency service defied belief given their history of defending the state at the worst of times.
I think it goes without saying that we owe these men and women the dignity and respect that will come with recognition of the contribution they make each and every day of their working lives.
Support for the Fairness for Forest Firefighters Facebook page created by the AWU demonstrated the depth of feeling in the community once the issues were known.
Ben Davis, Australian Workers’ Union Victorian secretary
Wine tax increase will hurt regional centres
The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia has rejected calls by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) to increase wine taxes.
The government’s WET rebate discussion paper process and the Senate inquiry into the wine industry currently underway are opportunities to develop a sensible and informed wine tax reform plan and to fund initiatives to build demand and restore profitability.
It is unhelpful for FARE to call out for tax increases that would severely impact regional communities and jobs that are reliant on the wine sector and wine tourism industry.
The federation believes that wine should be taxed within the existing WET legislative framework and that any future changes to wine tax arrangements be made within this framework and not shifted to an excise-based approach as is the case for beer and spirits.
The reason why wine is taxed differently and preferentially to other alcohol types is clear-cut. Wine is different when it comes to our socio-economic input into regional Australia, employment footprint, contribution to export earnings, profitability and access to capital compared to the vastly different brewing and spirits industries and it is only fair that alcohol tax arrangements reflect that.
The federation is calling for the WET rebate to remain for branded producers but for government to make reforms which will ensure it continues to deliver for regional communities.
