2016-05-05
Eastern Metropolitan Member of Parliament Samantha Dunn, and Greens Candidate for Menzies Richard Cranston visited the Warrandyte CFA on the April the 30th to pledge support for Presumptive Legislation.
Greens Upper House Member Samantha Dunn said “I congratulate the CFA campaign to make sure Presumptive Legislation applies to firefighters whether they be career or volunteers”.
“The Greens support the CFA Pledge, we are committed to social justice and a fairer society.
“Firefighters selflessly work to protect us all and need to have adequate protection and ease of compensation for work related illnesses.”
Background
Presumptive legislation is commonly referred to as the Firefighters’ Cancer Law - it is designed to provide a fairer and simpler path to compensation for volunteer and career firefighters who contract cancers scientifically proven to be linked to firefighting.
Presumptive legislation would work by reversing the onus of proof – the firefighter’s cancer would be presumed to be work related, provided the firefighter has sufficient years of service.
Presumption allows the firefighter to concentrate on treatment and recovery, not a lengthy and expensive court case.