31 October 2024
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (16:23): I rise briefly to speak in favour of this bill. Members would be aware that this is the portfolio responsibility of my colleague the Hon. Tammy Franks. She is absent today and so I just want to save us some time in the committee stage and indicate where the Greens sit in relation to the amendments of the Hon. Frank Pangallo.
It will not be surprising to members that of course we are supportive of the honourable member's amendments. While the Greens acknowledge and thank the government for bringing this bill forward, as my colleague the Hon. Tammy Franks alluded to in her second reading speech, the government has not brought forward the full list of changes that stakeholders, including the UFU, the United Firefighters Union, have asked for. I want to briefly reference some of the correspondence I understand my colleague the Hon. Tammy Franks has received from the UFU:
The Queensland Parliament recently passed the Workers' Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024. That Act significantly increased the number of cancers that are covered by presumptive workers compensation provisions for professional firefighters. The total number of cancers covered by the Queensland scheme is 23. Significantly, the proposal in Queensland enjoyed bipartisan support. Disappointingly, to date we have not received support for equivalent legislation from the Malinauskas Government.
That is disappointing. For clarity, that correspondence was received on 18 October this year. The correspondence goes on to point out that, while South Australia's current scheme is in alignment with Queensland's on 16 cancers, the bill as it stands would only add an additional three to the list. Of course we welcome that, and the government should be commended for doing that, but we do need to go a bit further, and that is what the amendments of the Hon. Frank Pangallo do. These amendments would add eight more cancers to the list and bring a further one in line with the length of service required under the scheme that operates in Queensland.
Once again, I think this does demonstrate the power of the crossbench in this place in terms of coming up with important contributions, putting forward the concerns of stakeholder groups. I commend the Hon. Frank Pangallo for his work on this and also the UFU and others who have been advocating in this space. This bill will be strengthened by the amendments not only for career firefighters but also volunteer firefighters. As the Hon. Tammy Franks mentioned in her second reading speech, while the Greens have consulted with the CFS Volunteers Association, it is not clear to us whether the government has actually consulted with these groups when developing this legislation.
With that, I indicate the Greens will support both of the Hon. Frank Pangallo's amendments. I might also use this opportunity to recognise the long-term work and leadership of my colleague the Hon. Tammy Franks, who has been a long-term advocate for the CFS and firefighters and addressing their needs. I want to commend her as well for her work.