Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was delighted this morning to join with so many Victorian Liberal and National Party colleagues, including yourself, Mr Deputy Speaker Broadbent, the member for Murray and the member for Mallee, who are in the chamber, and the member for La Trobe, who was previously in the chamber, to welcome a number of emergency service representatives who are visiting Parliament House today on the occasion of an important debate in the other place concerning the amendments to the Fair Work legislation.

I understand that those amendments, which are there to protect emergency service workers, such as the people who were involved in the Country Fire Authority in Victoria, the SES and similar organisations around the country, have passed the second reading stage in the Senate. This is important for my constituents who live to the east of my electorate in a combination of urban and rural areas in Warrandyte, in South Warrandyte and in Wonga Park, where there are CFA stations. The reality is that, with the very wet spring that we are having in Melbourne at the present time and with the prospects of a hot summer, the combination of factors means a very dangerous prospect in terms of a bushfire season this year. The work of the CFA and like organisations is valued. That is why this legislation should pass the parliament.