Firies' cancer compo claim doused
A bill which would have set a compensation standard for fire-fighters with specific cancers has been extinguished in the Victorian Senate.
The Bill was the expansion of laws passed in 2011 by the Commonwealth, mimicking the federal finding which removed the onus of proof from fire-fighters who develop one of 12 forms of cancer.
The State Government has not entirely ruled out passing the Bill at a later date. It is in line with international studies and a Senate inquiry that showed specific cancers were linked to the chemicals that fire-fighters are routinely exposed to at work.
The Victorian State Government said it only wanted more evidence of the link and further planning for the laws, one point was raised questioning whether the 60,000 Country Fire Authority volunteers would be covered if the law is passed as well.