Bendigo career firefighters have hit back against those “peddling untruths” and will join a rally in Melbourne tomorrow amid claims they have been used as a “political football”. 

United Firefighters Union Bendigo spokesperson Luke Kneebone said “false rumours” had spread anxiety among volunteers – but that none would be affected by the proposed enterprise bargaining agreement. 

“We've stayed pretty quite until this point, we’ve copped the mud which has been flung at us and a lot of the untruths which are out there in the media because we wanted to remain professional,”  Mr Kneebone said. 

“But we feel now it is time to speak up and try to clear up some of those untruths.” 

The Bendigo firefighter’s comments came hours after the Country Fire Authority released a statement saying it would not sign the agreement – which it described as “unlawful” – and a day after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joined a rally of CFA volunteers. 

Addressing several thousand CFA volunteers at a rally in Melbourne yesterday, Mr Turnbull promised new legislation to protect volunteer firefighters amid claims a deal between the Andrews government and the firefighters' union represents a threat to public safety.

“We’re sick of being used as a political football – now even the federal pollies are jumping on board,” Mr Kneebone said. 

“This isn’t about a union takeover, this is about our working conditions, about safety, about getting certainty and about getting on with our job of protecting the community

“We’ve now been over 1000 days without an EBA and we just want it sorted out, especially now with all the negative media coming towards us, it is taking quite a toll on people, causing quite a lot stress and anxiety – on top stress of from our day-to-day jobs. 

“Our job is stressful enough as it is without extra uncertainty around our future, and we just want to get on with the job.” 

A CFA employee for a decade, Mr Kneebone said he understood the concerns of volunteers, but said they were based on “false rumours”. 

One of the major issues of concern for volunteers, he said, was a clause which would require seven professional firefighters to attend fires. 

“I live Castlemaine, I grew up in Rochester and people are coming up to me saying ‘we won’t be able engage in a job until you guys show up,” Mr Kneebone said.

“That’s complete rubbish, it only means that for our guys, there is a duty of care to have seven firefighters before taking on a structural fire – it’s about keeping our workplace safe, it will not mean that other brigades will need to wait. 

“If I lived in Castlemaine and had to wait for a truck to come from Bendigo before fighting a fire, I’d rally against that too. 

“But the fact is that some people have chosen to misrepresent what the Fair Work Commission has said – and that is causing anxiety for volunteer firefighters.”

He also dismissed claims of a union “veto power” and “union takeover”. 

“The EBA does not give veto power to the union, what it does do is ensure workers are consulted on safety matters – we see this as vital to avoid what happened at Fiskville ever occurring again,” he said. 

Despite the controversy playing out in the state’s media, Mr Kneebone said volunteer and career firefighters enjoyed a good relationship in Bendigo and called on his volunteer colleagues to join tomorrow’s rally.

“As always, our priority will be on protecting Bendigo, so the on-duty shift will remain and will in no way be affected, but we’re calling on those of us on leave days, family and friends and anyone who thinks the CFA should abide by the Fair Work Commission’s recommendation to come along. 

“Volunteers are especially welcome and I hope to see some of them coming along to support us.” 

The rally will be held at 11am on the steps of parliament. 

The Bendigo Advertiser contacted the CFA brigades at Golden Square, Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat, but all three chose not to comment, instead referring questions to the CFA Division 2 headquarters which has not yet respond to interview requests.