Preface

This is my fifth progress report on the Victorian Government’s implementation of commitments made in response to the Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into the CFA Training College at Fiskville.

In May 2017 the government made 33 commitments in response to the inquiry, addressing such issues as occupational health and safety, environmental regulation, and redress for people affected by the contamination at Fiskville by PFAS chemicals previously used in firefighting foams.

In this report, I observed progress made towards the completion of all remaining commitments from IGEM’s 2021 progress report, with a further two fully implemented in this reporting period. This has led to a total of 30 commitments now assessed as either complete or closed.

The opening of the new Central Highlands training centre by the Country Fire Authority (CFA) in 2021 is a significant achievement and fills the gap in firefighter training facilities left by Fiskville’s 2015 closure. This will enable Victoria to continue to deliver high standards in firefighter training.

The other major milestone during this reporting period is the recent announcement of the Fiskville Redress Scheme. This will provide financial, medical and mental health support for individuals impacted by past practices at Fiskville. I hope this support, along with CFA’s apology to acknowledge the harm caused, will help bring healing and justice to those who were affected

I also acknowledge the continued progress CFA has made in introducing new water management systems and treatment processes at its training centres. These will ensure our firefighters do not face adverse health effects while training due to contaminated water. I will continue to monitor this and the two other remaining commitments.

I appreciate the high level of cooperation and support received from CFA, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the Department of Justice and Community Safety, and Emergency Management Victoria in the preparation of this report. I commend all organisations with responsibility for implementing commitments as part of this inquiry for their efforts to help ensure the experience at Fiskville never happens again.

Tony Pearce Inspector-General for Emergency Management

Acronyms and abbreviations

CFA Country Fire Authority

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease

DCCEEW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

DELWP Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

DJCS Department of Justice and Community Safety

EM Act 2013 Emergency Management Act 2013

EMV Emergency Management Victoria

EPA Environment Protection Authority Victoria

FRV Fire Rescue Victoria

IChEMS Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard

IGEM Inspector-General for Emergency Management

The inquiry

The Inquiry into the CFA Training College at Fiskville

PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

PFC Perfluorinated chemicals

PFHxS Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid

PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid

PFOS Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid

POPs Persistent organic pollutants

RIS Regulation Impact Statement

Stockholm Convention Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

VEMTC Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre

WMS Water management systems