Media statement

Tania Maxwell today ramped up her community campaign to add female-specific ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers to Victoria’s schedule of firefighter presumptive rights.

Tania Maxwell’s ‘Do Gooder’ female firefighter safety campaign

The Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party Member for Northern Victoria said firefighters currently have presumptive rights to medical and financial help if they are diagnosed with any of 12* cancers because of their career or volunteer firefighting work.

“Only two months ago the World Health Organisation cancer agency (IARC) reclassified firefighting as an occupation carcinogenic to humans,” Ms Maxwell said.

“So, with more and more women becoming career and volunteer firefighters, it’s vital the government adds these three female-specific cancers to Victoria’s list.

“The state should have all firefighters’ backs when they’re protecting our lives, communities, property and environment. It’s simply a matter of safety and equality.”

Ms Maxwell first moved to bring on the change when she put an amendment to the Forests Amendment (Forest Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation) Bill 2021 in October last year.

“The government committed then and there to consultation, a review of the latest medical and scientific advice, and involving me in discussions with women firefighters,” she said.

“But the government’s not delivered.

“Seven months later – in May, this year – I introduced a private member’s bill to legislate the addition of ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers to the presumptive rights schedule, and the government promised a lasting solution ‘at the proper time’.

“Then the World Health Organisation’s cancer agency (IARC) in July announced its reclassification of firefighting as a cause of cancer.

“With the strong support of Volunteer Fire Brigades of Victoria, members of Fire Services Victoria, Country Fire Authority and the United Firefighters Union, surely ‘the proper time’ has arrived for the government to act.”

Ms Maxwell encouraged firefighters and people in communities across Victoria to join her female firefighter safety campaign and call on their MPs to back presumptive rights for these female-specific cancers.