The United Firefighters Union Secretary Peter Marshall has written to the Victorian Premier, John Brumby about problems at the recently refurbished Droop Street Fire Station in Footscray. The letter was copied to local members of State Parliament.

Dear Premier Brumby,

Subject: Letter to Premier Brumby re Footscray Fire Station, 69 Droop Street, Footscray

It is with extreme concern that I write to your good office to lodge a formal complaint regarding one of your statutory authorities being the Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board (MFESB).

We have forwarded correspondence to the Auditor General which highlights a number of significant concerns regarding the inefficient, poorly planned expenditure of public monies by the Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board in the context of the refurbishment/reconstruction of the Footscray Fire Station at 69 Droop Street, Footscray.

We have obtained a copy of the official plans which were submitted to Council and endorsed by Council regarding the above refurbishment/reconstruction.

We have included a copy of the relevant section of the official plans which indicate that the plans included the ability for disabled persons to access the lecture room of the MFB building which, in this case, is located on the third floor.

Access was to be provided by way of the inclusion of a lift as part of the refurbishment/reconstruction process which was clearly budgeted for and intended to be delivered as shown by the incorporation of such lift in the official plans that were submitted and endorsed by Council (see copy attached), planning permit number TP05/0499.

Further, the above exclusion of the above stated lift denies access to disabled members of the community within the relevant area due to the fact that community meetings and lectures are delivered to the community in the lecture room which is on the third floor of the reconstructed/refurbished building. However there is absolutely no way a disabled person can attend such lectures or meetings as they are unable to gain access unless they transverse approximately five (5) flights of stairs to the third floor.

We are also concerned at the hypocrisy of this situation as the firefighters were lead to believe that disabled access would be included as part of the refurbishment/reconstruction process. Clearly, the endorsed plans by Council, which were submitted by the MFESB, confirm the firefighters beliefs to be correct.

We also note that the MFESB’s Disability Action Plan 2008 to 2011 which was launched by Mr. Graeme Innes, Human Right Commissioner and Disability Discrimination Commissioner. For the record many senior government officials, including relevant Ministers of your government , attended such launch which was widely advertised to the disabled community and public at large via an aggressive media campaign.

The situation of denying access to disabled persons within the western suburbs, in our view is not only disgusting but reeks of hypocrisy when you read the following statements contained within the glossy brochure disseminated at the above launch:

Under Item 6 on Page 10 the brochure includes, in part, the following statement and commitment to the public:

6. Physical Environment:
To ensure MFB buildings and facilities are physically accessible with safe emergency egress, and to take account of the informational and signage needs of MFB staff and all members of the public, including those with a range of different disabilities.

The MFB will:
· Incorporate physical accessibility in plans for all building upgrades and new stations.

Further the MFESB’s ‘Design and Delivery Manual for New & Refurbished Fire Stations’ dated September, 2005 states as follows:

2.2.6 The Public:
The following areas are considered to be ‘public spaces’ for the purposes of disability access:
· Entry Foyer
· Lecture Room
· Visitor/disabled toilet
· Turnout Alcove (so people can access the appliance bay)
· Appliance bay.
The rest of the station building is considered to be private. A member of the public or a visitor by invitation may be taken through these areas. However, an employee will always escort them.

As can be seen from the above the MFESB is not only breaching its own policies but also we believe has mislead the public and the government by including disability access via the incorporation of a lift into the reconstruction as submitted and endorsed by the local Town Planner and then abandoning it.

We note that the MFESB’s Disability Action Plan also states that it takes into consideration the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (1992), the Victorian Disability Act (2006) and the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act (2006).

In particular, they quote the Victorian Disability Act (2006) Section 38 of the Disability Act (2006) requires each public sector body, including statutory authorities such as the MFB, to develop a Disability Action Plan to:
· Reduce barriers to accessing services and facilities
· Reduce barriers to obtaining employment
· Promote inclusion and participation
· Achieve tangible changes tin attitudes and practices which discriminate against persons with a disability.

In our view the MFESB has clearly failed to satisfy the above imperatives and it is incumbent on the responsible Minister to require the MFESB to explain.

In closing, as a government that purports to be committed to an inclusive approach to community members who suffer, through no fault of their own, a disability we respectfully request that your office provide us with a written reply to these serious matters that we have raised in this correspondence.

Peter Marshall
Secretary
United Firefighters Union Australia
Strength In Unity

Further correspondence:
Labor MP Jenny Mikakos replied
Dear Peter
Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the Footscray Fire Station. As the issue you raised falls within the portfolio responsibility of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, I have referred your e-mail directly to the Minister's office seeking that they respond directly to you. Thank you for bringing your views to my attention.

Regards
Jenny Mikakos MP
Member for Northern Metropolitan Region
Parliamentary Secretary for Planning
Parliament of Victoria

The Union's response
Dear Ms Mikakos,
Thank you for your reply. However I am interested in your response to this important matter. The Minster Mr Cameron has decided to not meet with the union on any matter.

We currently have a significant number of trade union members in your electorate as well as public members who are interested in your views as thier elected member.

Please provide a written response on these important issue that effects disable members of the community. This will enable us to inform people who have voted for you your position on this matter.