Media release – Elise Archer, Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, 31 March 2023
Leading the way in care for our firefighters
The Rockliff Liberal Government is again leading the way as the first Australian state to extend the list of presumptive cancers for firefighters.
Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, Elise Archer, said a healthy firefighting workforce is critical to the safety of Tasmanians.
“While our firefighters have excellent training and equipment to protect them, not all hazards can be completely removed from their workplace,” she said.
“They are exposed to toxins in smoke, fuel and other hazardous materials at emergency incidents.”
Minister Archer has determined to include an additional eight cancers to the presumptive list, including: primary site cervical cancer; primary site ovarian cancer; primary site penile cancer; primary site thyroid cancer; primary site pancreatic cancer; primary site skin cancer; primary site lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma.
“These hazards affect our female firefighters just as much as our male firefighters, yet our current laws only cover male reproductive cancers,” she said.
“Tasmania’s workers compensation laws will be changed as soon as possible to include these additional cancers on the presumptive list.”
“The health of our female fire-fighters is valued just as much as their male counterparts, and these changes are a clear signal that gender equity and fair compensation for fire-fighters injured at work matter and are priorities of the Rockliff Liberal Government,” Minister Archer said.
Media release – United Firefighters Union of Australia, 31 March 2023
TASMANIA BECOMES THE FIRST STATE TO EXTEND CANCER PROTECTION FOR PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS
The United Firefighters Union of Australia has welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s historic decision to expand cancer protection for professional firefighters.
Tasmania is the very first State or Territory to expand the number of cancers included under presumptive cancer legislation for professional firefighters from 12 to 20 and follows similar Commonwealth legislation passed last year.
At a rally outside the Tasmanian Parliament today, United Firefighters Union of Australia National Secretary Greg McConville thanked the Rockcliff Government for taking this courageous step to protect Tasmanian professional firefighters.
“We thank and congratulate the Rockcliff government’s courageous step to expand cancer protection for its professional firefighters, the first State of Territory in Australia to do so.
“The Rockcliff Government today announced it would expand the number of cancers covered under presumptive cancer legislation from 12 to 20 to increase protection for professional firefighters who contract these types of cancer as a result of their work.
“Subject to examining the finer details of the legislation, we believe this issue has been resolved.
“Today’s rally has been addressed by two firefighter cancer survivors and a third who has just been diagnosed with cancer, and we’re pleased that their voices have been heard across the Tasmanian Parliament.”
The additional number of cancers covered under Tasmanian presumptive legislation include primary site cervical cancer; primary site ovarian cancer; primary site penile cancer; primary site thyroid cancer; primary site pancreatic cancer; primary site skin cancer; primary site lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma.
Mr McConville said adding these cancers to presumptive legislation was particularly important for women, who are now choosing to become professional firefighters in greater numbers.
“With increasing numbers of women joining the ranks of professional fire services, its critical that they receive support and treatment if the development of cancer as a result of their work from day one.
“The addition of these cancers to Tasmania’s presumptive cancer legislation delivers the protection that both female and male firefighters need and deserve.”
Mr Alex Forrest, an international presumptive cancer expert and a Trustee of the International Association of Firefighters, representing firefighters at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) meetings and has travelled from Canada especially to address the nations politicians said today’s announcement was historic, not just for Tasmania, but for professional firefighters across Australia.
“The Tasmanian Government’s courageous decision to expand cancer protection for its professional firefighters sets an excellent example for the nation.
“We call on all other Australian States and Territories to follow the lead of Tasmania and Commonwealth and to expand cancer protection for their professional firefighters as soon as possible,” Mr Forrest said.
In July 2022, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) officially declared firefighting a cancer-causing profession. This move had major implications for the manner in which cancer is managed by firefighters and fire services across the world, including Australia.
“Presumptive legislation recognises the cancer risks of firefighting and provides that if a firefighter suffers from cancer, it is, subject to qualifying periods, presumed to have been contracted at work.”
“But currently, in all Australian States Territories except Tasmania and the Commonwealth, only 12 types of cancer are covered under state law.
“Every day, firefighters risk their health and safety to protect the lives of others, and if they fall ill or become injured as a result of their work, our community owes it to them to ensure they receive the medical support and compensation they deserve.
“We once again congratulate the Rockcliff Government on today’s announcement and call on all other Australian States and Territories to expand cancer protection for their firefighters.
“The United Firefighters Union of Australia looks forward to meeting with those State and Territory leaders shortly.”
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Police, Fire, and Emergency Management spokesperson, 31 March 2023
Greens Welcome Presumptive Cancer Reform
The Greens strongly support the push for women firefighters to be covered by presumptive cancer legislation, and congratulate the United Firefighters Union and CPSU for securing Government support for this change. It’s now up to Minister Elise Archer to implement this reform as soon as possible.
Firefighting is now recognised by the World Health Organisation as one of the two most dangerous occupations for cancer risk in the world. Tasmania was the first state to introduce presumptive cancer legislation in 2012, which means our firefighters no longer have to prove a direct link between the cancers they develop and their work.
In Tasmania, men are covered for male-specific cancers they contract, but women are not covered for women-specific cancers. This is unjust, and perpetuates an historical misogynistic attitude that women are not welcome as firefighters – which is clearly not the stated intention of the TFS.
More women are joining career and volunteer firefighting roles, and the proportion of female to male firefighters continues to go up. At the same time, firefighting risk is growing, with more plastics in the built environment than ever before.
Women firefighters, like men, put themselves in the way of extreme danger every day to protect Tasmanians. They deserve to be supported and protected in exactly the same way as men.
We call on Minister to make putting in place this important reform a matter of priority. Every day delayed is a day without diagnostic screening, and prevention information being provided to women firefighters, as well as the lack of support for women who may contract a range of women-specific cancers.
