NSW firefighters diagnosed with cancer will no longer need to prove they contracted the disease as a direct result of their work, under a plan by the state opposition.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp and Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison visited Cooks Hill Fire Station to make the announcement today, vowing to slash red tape for firefighters seeking compensation.
The Fire Brigade Employees Union and the Rural Fire Services Association have long been campaigning for presumptive cancer legislation, with numerous studies concluding firefighters are at a greater risk of developing certain types of cancers than those in other professions, due to their frequent exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Labor will introduce a Bill to NSW Parliament, which, if passed, will see cancer diagnoses presumed to be caused by occupational hazards - as long as the sick firefighter has been in the profession for a minimum period.
Those periods differ by variation of the disease, for example, Leukaemia and Brain Cancer 5 years; Testicular Cancer 10 years; Non Hodkin's Lymphoma 15 years and Oesophageal Cancer 25 years.
Sub Branch Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, Jason Morgan believes the legislation will make a real difference for local firies, saying about 1 in 5 Newcastle firefighters have been touched by some form of cancer in their lives.
Tim Crakanthorp said it's about time the scheme was introduced.
"NSW Labor has worked for over a year consulting with stakeholders on this legislation," he explained, "we're the last state to do it after the Federal Government announced legislation to allow it in 2011."
Jodie Harrison agreed the current system must be overhauled.
"Our firefighters put their lives at risk with every fire that they fight...it's important we don't put their lives further at risk by making them jump through hoops for workers compensation."
