The chief fire officer of Victoria's Country Fire Authority has become the latest victim of Premier Daniel Andrews workplace deal with the firefighters union.
As first reported by The Age there had been significant pressure on CFA chief officer Joe Buffone to endorse a new deal with the United Firefighters Union, something he resisted because of fears he would be in breach of his legislated duties.
Mr Buffone follows the sacked CFA board, and former emergency services minister Jane Garrett and CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan who both resigned.
They all objected to the deal because it would hand undue control to the militant union, be in breach of equal opportunity laws and undermine the ability of the CFA officials to run the authority.
On Thursday morning Mr Buffone stepped down, saying: "I believe the agreement will tie the hands of those who are obliged by law to protect the safety of Victorians."
"In my opinion I am now in circumstances where my ability to effectively carry out my role is compromised by an industrial agreement," he said in a message to CFA members
"In addition, it impedes my vision for CFA as a modern, contemporary and inclusive emergency service."
Community anger, particularly in areas with volunteer fire brigades, has been burning over the Premier's intervention in the long-standing workplace dispute between the union and the CFA.
A tribute to Mr Buffone came from his counterpart at the MFB Peter Rau, who said that he had showed principles. The MFB is also in the midst of a dispute with the UFU over a new workplace deal.
The issue has also been a major distraction from Bill Shorten's attempt to win Saturday's federal election, with volunteers out campaigning against Labor in key marginal seats, including Corangamite and McEwen.
Mr Andrews' has previously said he intervened in the dispute because he did not want Victoria to enter another bushfire season with the workplace dispute unresolved.
His involvement in the dispute, just before a federal election, has left many inside the state government and the wider Labor movement scratching their heads.
The EBA is for the 800 paid CFA firefighters who run 34 out of the authority's 1200 fire stations, including many in Melbourne's suburbs and Victoria's regional centres.
Opponents of the deal argue that the EBA delivers veto powers to the union, which would undermine management's ability to run the service.
Other concerns centre on a view that the role of volunteers would be undermined.
Mr Buffone and the board have been resisting the deal because it takes control out of their hands. Some insiders have warned that the deal risks public safety.
The union have rejected the concerns of volunteers, citing the Fair Work Commissioner Julius Roe's ruling that the deal would not affect the role of volunteers.
CFA chief fire officer Joe Buffone's message to members.
More to come
