Untitled document

Country Fire Authority Amendment (Volunteer Charter) Act 2011

No. 10 of 2011

table of provisions

Section  Page

1Purpose

2Commencement

3Definitions

4New sections 6F to 6I inserted

6FRecognition of Authority as a volunteer-based organisation

6GRecognition of the Volunteer Charter

6HAuthority to have regard to Volunteer Charter

6IAuthority's responsibility to encourage, maintain and strengthen capacity of volunteers

5Repeal of this Act

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Endnotes

Country Fire Authority Amendment (Volunteer Charter) Act 2011

No. 10 of 2011

[Assented to 10 May 2011]

The Parliament of Victoria enacts:

1Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to amend the Country Fire Authority Act 1958—

(a)to recognise the Authority as a volunteer-based organisation; and

(b)to recognise the Volunteer Charter; and

(c)to require the Authority to have regard to the Volunteer Charter; and

(d)to make other amendments in relation to the Authority's responsibility to volunteer officers and members.

2Commencement

This Act comes into operation on the day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

3Definitions

In section 3(1) of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 insert the following definition—

"Volunteer Charter means the Volunteer Charter agreed by the Government of Victoria, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria Incorporated and the Authority, signed on 27 February 2011 and as amended from time to time;".

4New sections 6F to 6I inserted

After section 6E of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 insert—

6FRecognition of Authority as a volunteer-based organisation"

The Parliament recognises that the Authority is first and foremost a volunteer-based organisation, in which volunteer officers and members are supported by employees in a fully integrated manner.

6GRecognition of the Volunteer Charter

The Parliament recognises that the Volunteer Charter—

(a)is a statement of the commitment and principles that apply to the relationship between the Government of Victoria, the Authority and volunteer officers and members; and

(b)requires that the Authority recognise, value, respect and promote the contribution of volunteer officers and members to the well-being and safety of the community; and

(c)requires that the Government of Victoria and the Authority commit to consulting with Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria Incorporated on behalf of volunteer officers and members on any matter that might reasonably be expected to affect them.

6HAuthority to have regard to Volunteer Charter

The Authority must, in performing its functions, have regard to the commitment and principles set out in the Volunteer Charter.

6IAuthority's responsibility to encourage, maintain and strengthen capacity of volunteers

The Authority has a responsibility to develop policy and organisational arrangements that encourage, maintain and strengthen the capacity of volunteer officers and members to provide the Authority's services.".

5Repeal of this Act

This Act is repealed on the first anniversary of its commencement.

Note

The repeal of this Act does not affect the continuing operation of the amendments made by it (see section 15(1) of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984).

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Endnotes

Minister's second reading speech—

Legislative Assembly: 3 March 2011

Legislative Council: 24 March 2011

The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill for an Act to amend the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and for other purposes."