Around 300 firefighters and supporters gathered outside Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke’s electorate office as veteran union leader Peter Marshall warned the Carroll Labor Government that its dispute with firefighters could follow it to polling booths at the November 28 state election.
The firefighters’ protest on Monday, 12 October, saw United Firefighters Union (UFU) Victorian Secretary Peter Marshall deliver a direct warning to Edbrooke, the state’s Emergency Services Minister and a former firefighter.
Marshall, who has led the Victorian UFU since 1995, accused the government of pursuing legal arguments that threaten longstanding firefighter safety protections.
“Now we can rally until the cows come home and we will do so. But what he needs to understand, we will be on polling booths.”
He warned the union would tell voters about what it considers the government’s failure to protect firefighters and the communities they serve.
Former Firefighter Edbrooke Faces Union Criticism
Edbrooke’s firefighting background became a central focus of Marshall’s speech.
Before entering Parliament in 2014, Edbrooke worked as a firefighter and supported industrial campaigns over working conditions.
Marshall accused the minister of supporting an approach similar to that taken by the former Napthine Liberal Government during the 2013 and 2014 industrial disputes.
“We’re talking about a Labor government doing exactly what the Liberal government did in 2014.”
The UFU alleges that legal submissions filed on Edbrooke’s behalf on 4 September could undermine protections covering minimum staffing, protective equipment, qualifications and workplace consultation.
Marshall insisted the dispute extended beyond wages.
“Now put aside money. What we’re actually talking about here is your safety.”
He argued that removing enforceable minimum staffing requirements could compromise emergency response capabilities.
“You can’t put a fire out, you can’t perform a rescue with one firefighter.”
The claims concern proposed changes to the operational agreement and their potential legal consequences. The union’s interpretation remains contested, and the protections have not been established as having been removed.
Auditor-General Reveals Fire Truck Funding Shortfall
The protest comes amid renewed scrutiny of Victoria’s firefighting resources.
A Victorian Auditor-General’s report, tabled on Wednesday, 14 October, found serious problems with fleet maintenance and replacement funding.
The report revealed:
- $1.5 billion is required for critical fire truck replacements and upgrades through to 2033-34, with only around one-quarter of the funding identified.
- 67.9 per cent of scheduled Fire Rescue Victoria maintenance was completed between 2021 and 2025.
- FRV fleet availability was 82 per cent, below its 85 per cent target.
These independent findings support concerns about the condition and availability of firefighting vehicles, although they do not establish the UFU’s separate allegations concerning industrial protections.
The Carroll Government has announced a $167 million commitment towards 150 new fire trucks by 2030.
Meanwhile, negotiations over operational firefighters’ pay and conditions remain unresolved. FRV has reportedly made seven offers during the prolonged bargaining process, while the UFU disputes the government’s position on key agreement provisions.
November 28 Election Raises Political Stakes
With Victoria heading to the polls on Saturday, 28 November, the union’s warning places additional public scrutiny on the Labor Government and Edbrooke’s handling of the Emergency Services portfolio.
Edbrooke has represented Frankston since 2014 and received 58.66 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred vote in 2022.
The dispute carries particular significance given Edbrooke’s firefighting history and the UFU’s previous campaigning during the 2014 state election.
Following the Frankston protest, firefighters escalated their campaign with another demonstration outside Premier Ben Carroll’s electorate office in Niddrie on Tuesday, 13 October.
Marshall concluded his Frankston address with a direct appeal:
“Fix the problem. Fix it today. We’re not asking for money.”
“We’re asking for safety. We’re asking to protect the community.”
The UFU has now placed its concerns before voters, with early voting beginning on 18 November.
Whether the dispute is resolved before election day remains uncertain, but Marshall has made clear that firefighters intend to continue their public campaign if agreement cannot be reached.
For Edbrooke, a former firefighter now responsible for Victoria’s emergency services, the dispute presents a direct political challenge just weeks before voters head to the polls.
