Professional firefighters want Victoria to follow the lead of their West Australian counterparts and expand the number of cancers included in presumptive legislation to 20.
The WA government on Saturday announced it was expanding the number of cancers covered under presumptive legislation from 12 to 20.
The eight additional illnesses are thyroid, pancreatic, skin, cervical, ovarian, penile, malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer.
The change means current or retired career or volunteer WA firefighters who are diagnosed with the cancers will be presumed to have developed their disease because of their work.
United Firefighters Union Victorian Branch Secretary Peter Marshall said it was time for Victoria to follow suit.
“Western Australia has just announced that it will now deliver the same cancer protection for its firefighters as those working for the Commonwealth, in Tasmania and the ACT," Mr Marshall said on Sunday.
“Firefighters working in these jurisdictions will now be covered for 20 deadly cancers instead of just 15, as is the case here in Victoria.
Victorian firefighters are exposed to the same toxins, face the same risks and develop the same cancers as other firefighters across Australia.
A bill, raised by the Greens, to expand the number of cancers covered under Victoria’s presumptive legislation is expected to go to a vote in the week beginning 14 August.
