Fiskville firefighter fallout

PEOPLE exposed to harmful contaminants and toxic substances at the former Country Fire Authority training college in Fiskville will be able to access financial support from early next month, as part of a state redress scheme. The scheme was one of the 31 recommendations put forward in 2016 following a parliamentary inquiry into the facility, which also urged CFA to take responsibility for some officials knowingly exposing members and their families to toxic chemicals with known links to cancer before the facility's closure in 2015. On Friday, CFA officials joined Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes to formally announce the $57m redress scheme, with volunteers, staff, local community members and other attendees eligible for financial and non–financial support from September 5. The scheme is set to be overseen by the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) independent of the CFA, while rehabilitation works have been undertaken by CFA and recent years and independently assessed by an Environment Protection Authority–accredited auditor. According to CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan, the scheme was an important acknowledgement of the facility's issues. In a joint statement with CFA board chair Greg Wilson and chief executive officer Natalie MacDonald, Mr Heffernan expressed the desire of the firefighting organisation to learn from the experience and improve safety and environmental management for all members going forward. "We acknowledge the significant issues of the past in relation to the management of this facility, and we are deeply sorry for any potential harm to volunteers and staff and other attendees at the time and the many people from the local community who supported CFA at this important site near Ballan," he said. "There is no doubt that the health and safety of our members – and the health and safety of those who work with us in supporting our activities – is our key priority. "What occurred at Fiskville can never happen again – we will always work to ensure our members and our community are protected and safe." Those who elect to participate in the redress scheme will not be restricted in their right to pursue other avenues of compensation including the government's Presumptive Rights Scheme and workers compensation. To register for the initiative, visit www.vic.gov.au/redress–fiskville from September 5.