Cancer call over firefighter compo law change
The state government is introducing law changes to recognise more cancers which can afflict firefighters, but the United Firefighters Union says more should be added to the list.
Legislation will be introduced to amend the Return to Work Act and add another three cancers to those presumed to arise from employment as a firefighter.
The legislation currently recognises 12 types of cancers as presumed to be work-related for firefighters, allowing compensation, medical expenses, income support and other return-to-work support to be claimed.
Under the law change, cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer will be added to the brain, bladder, kidney, non-Hodkin lymphoma, leukaemia, breast, testicular, myeloma, prostate, ureter, colorectal, and oesophageal cancers already presumed to arise from employment as a firefighter.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the changes would make it “fairer and easier for our female firefighters”.
“These changes recognise the rising number of female firefighters in South Australia and the invaluable service they provide to our community,” he said.
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Waite MP and CFS volunteer Catherine Hutchesson said the changes were an “important reform to support our female firefighters”.
“It is great we are seeing more women become firefighters, but it is important that our workplace laws keep up and this change will help provide support and peace of mind for firefighters,” she said.
But the United Firefighters Union of South Australia said it had long called for eight additional cancers to be included under the legislation, including two of the three included in the proposed reforms.
UFUSA secretary Max Adlam told InDaily while the union welcomed the announcement, it was “very keen for there to be an announcement in relation to an additional six cancers”.
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It wants lung, skin, penile, pancreatic and thyroid cancer and mesothelioma to also be included in the Act.
“There is substantial scientific evidence to back these [cancers] in, and they are provisions that have been introduced by most governments in the states [and] territories in the Commonwealth now,” Adlam said.
Of the six remaining cancers, Cancer Australia statistics indicated more men than women had been diagnosed in 2023 with all cancers but thyroid.
In its 2021-2024 Culture and Diversity Plan, the Metropolitan Fire Service reported men made up over 95 per cent of the more than 1100 employee workforce.
United Firefighters Union South Australia secretary Max Adlam welcomed the announcement. Photo: UFUSA
Adlam said while decontamination procedures were used by firefighters as soon as possible after attending an incident, there was still “far too high an incidence of our members suffering these diseases, quite often terminally”.
“They work in extreme heat, which means their pores are open, and the toxicity is transferred through their skin,” she said.
Adlam said the inclusion of cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer in the presumptive cancers would be a “huge relief” to those already experiencing the diseases.
“It takes away the issue of having to fight on the front when you’re already battling a very serious condition,” she said.
“It’s an enormous, enormous benefit for our members. Both psychologically, and it assists with things like treatment and medicines, and if the worst happens as unfortunately it too regularly does, it means that the family receives some compensation.
“Nothing can ever compensate of course for your loved one’s life, but it does help to pay the bills and keep going.”
