00:00Burning buildings and toxic fumes are just some of the risks that make firefighting a dangerous job.
00:07We will always provide income protection for them.
00:10But the taxpayer-funded insurance for firefighters in Victoria is now under intense scrutiny.
00:15Then it became apparent that some of the funds were being used for things other than income protection.
00:20Two years ago, at the request of the United Firefighters Union, the income protection provider changed,
00:26but the regular contributions from Fire Rescue Victoria continued.
00:30Documents show that the new provider has been paying the union $60,000 a month in service fees under the arrangement.
00:37They've been labelled secret commissions in court.
00:391.6 million had been diverted into the United Firefighters Union for their own purposes,
00:46so I have an obligation to challenge that.
00:50FRV is suing the union for deceptive and misleading conduct and is seeking restitution payments.
00:55Gavin Freeman says Victorians should be concerned.
00:58I think they should be outraged.
01:00If that money's been used for anything other than its intended purpose, well clearly that's not right.
01:07The new provider was also dispensing other benefits, which resulted in FRV's fringe benefit tax bill blowing out by $10 million a year.
01:15And that's something Victorians have to pay for.
01:18The allegations come at a turbulent time for firefighting.
01:20For months the union has been warning about safety issues in the new Westgate and Metro tunnels,
01:25saying its equipment is not up to scratch.
01:27FRV is now updating radio communications.
01:30Secretary Peter Marshall wants a parliamentary inquiry into the tunnel openings,
01:34but he brushed off questions about the income protection scheme.
01:38Firefighters need to be given equipment to make sure they're actually safe.
01:41The Premier did not do that.
01:43On top of that, lots of public money's been spent on litigating firefighters.
01:47That's just another day in our reality.
01:50The State Government says it backs FRV's leadership and it expects swift action whenever public money is not appropriately used.
01:57Gavin Freeman says this is not an attack on firefighters and he's urging the public to back them.
02:02Please listen to them because that can help save your life.
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