Nar Nar Goon CFA and firefighter health

With 22 cancer diagnoses, including three deaths reported among long-serving members of the Nar Nar Goon CFA brigade, candidates were asked what specific action would they take to protect volunteer firefighters from occupational health risks and ensure Nar Nar Goon received a safe, fit-for-purpose station without further delay.
While the cause of the cancer cluster has not been established, Nar Nar Goon brigade members have raised concerns about occupational exposure associated with firefighting and gaps in Victoria's presumptive-rights compensation arrangements.
The brigade's ageing station also has been the subject of longstanding concern.
Family First's Geoff Dethlefs said the number of deaths was "extraordinary" and he hoped there were some sensible people in government with systems to ensure the problem was fixed.
He said the CFA must be well resourced. "If our government is lazy about that then they are letting us down."
Incumbent Wayne Farnham said the Nar Nar Goon station was one of the busiest in the state but it was not fit for purpose.
He said volunteers were working in a station built in the 1940s that had just one toilet.
Mr Farnham said a cancer cluster like this should be investigated. He said if there was a link between the Nar Nar Goon CFA members and the cancer cluster, the Liberal Party would support cancer compensation for those volunteers - "it needs to be addressed and compensated for."
Greens candidate Alyssa Weaver said any reviews of the cancer cluster should be undertaken with community involvement.
She said the need for new, appropriate facilities at Nar Nar Goon "shouldn't even be questioned."
"It's disheartening our community has to cry out for things like this when they should be just listened to," she said.
Labor's Jannette Langley said the Victorian government "is backing our firefighters" and had committed $26 million to upgrading 10 CFA stations, including Nar Nar Goon.
"The commitment doesn't stop there," she said, referring to ALP candidate for Morwell Tracie Lund's push for cancer protection of ffirefighters.
"From investing in facilities to strengthening the wellbeing of fire fighters, the government is putting fire fighters first. Trucks more than 15-years-old will be retired," she said.
Victorian Socialist candidate Moss Page said volunteers who worked to protect communities should not have their lives put at risk.
He said he would fight for an independent investigation into all CFA brigades to ensure they were adequately equipped, if their stations were up to standard and if their wellbeing was being looked after - "if they are not, they need the funding straight away."
One Nation's Ben Lucas said he had visited the Nar Nar Goon station several times and could not believe there were 38 volunteers in a station with one toilet and women had to get changed behind a curtain.
Mr Lucas promised One Nation would "kick the door in and there will be a full investigation" into the cancer cluster.
"We need to assess every station around the state. We need to create a matrix and prioritise what needs to be done and a long term infrastructure plan on when it will be delivered," he said.