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Callum Godde

Cancer compensation push to cover women firefighters

Victoria's premier flagged changes to the presumptive cancer scheme for firefighters are imminent. (Joe Castro/AAP PHOTOS)

Female firefighters diagnosed with cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers could soon be covered under Victoria's presumptive cancer scheme.

Premier Daniel Andrews has flagged changes to the firefighters' presumptive cancer scheme are imminent as Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes consults stakeholders.

"I'm not at liberty to talk about matters that cabinet may well have considered a couple of days ago," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"Announcements will be made in due course because we do the work."

The scheme was set up in 2019 to negate the need for firefighters diagnosed with cancer to prove causation to claim compensation.

In 2021, former crossbench MP Tania Maxwell moved to amend the legislation to include ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers but didn't take it to a vote after the Victorian government gave her assurances.

The Greens picked up the mantle on Wednesday after releasing a draft bill to add more cancers including cervical, ovarian and uterine forms.

Fire Rescue Victoria firefighter Katherine Dunnell said women in the service lacked coverage compared to their male counterparts.

"We go through the same training, we enter the same burning buildings side by side - yet we don't have the coverage when it comes to gender-based reproductive cancers," she said.

A medical data gap has been created by female firefighters only joining the service three decades ago and workforce numbers remaining low, she said.

"There hasn't been the cancers coming up (but) that will change over time," Ms Dunnell said.

Primary site lung, skin, cervical, ovarian, penile, pancreatic and thyroid cancer and malignant mesothelioma were added to federal regulations for firefighters' presumptive rights last year.

Inconsistencies with the state and federal laws must be rectified to ensure greater access for firefighters, Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said.

"A firefighter covered by the federal laws who works at Tullamarine airport has more rights than a firefighter working down the road," she said.

Victorian secretary of the United Firefighters Union Peter Marshall called on the Andrews government to support the Greens bill as more women become professional firefighters.

"In July last year, The World Health Organisation officially declared firefighting a cancer-causing profession," he said in a statement.

"It's now up to the Victorian government to ensure that professional firefighters have laws that fully support them when they develop cancer due to their work."

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