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Source: Reuters -
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This one came as a bit of a surprise. Here's a man, willing to put his life on the line to help Victoria avoid a repeat of the Black Saturday bush fires that killed more than 170 people, and what happens? He is told he can't be a fireman, because he's a Kiwi.
That's right, New Zealand born David Faulkner thought he'd try out for the Victorian fire service. He contacted the employment co-ordinator who told him he needed to be either an Australian citizen or hold of a permanent residency visa.
Faulkner was outraged. He's a New Zealander who holds a special
category visa, and like most Kiwi's, this allows him to live and
work here. But not so, according to Victoria's Metropolitan Fire
and Emergency Services Board, the MFB.
The MFB website cited bilateral social security arrangements
(26/2/2001) between Australia and New Zealand as the reason for
knocking Mr Faulkner back. These arrangements require Kiwi's to
obtain permanent residence status before they can access certain
social security payments or be employed by the Australian
government, ie the MFB.
However, according to the arrangements, Kiwi's are not required to do this if they were in Australia on 26/2/2006. The problem is David Faulkner wasn't. He was away on business that day, working for his Australian employer.
Too bad, said the MFB employment co-ordinator and told Mr Faulkner his application to be a fire fighter would not be accepted. As far as David Faulkner was concerned, he was receiving unequal treatment because he was a New Zealander. Mr Faulkner did some research and reckoned this was a deliberate act of race discrimination. So, he complained to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
An investigation by the Commission found that David Faulkner had every right to complain and ordered both parties to enter conciliation. While Mr Faulkner was happy to talk about the issue, the MFB was not. The boss told me the matter was private and confidential.
And so, ONE News broke the story of alleged discrimination by Victoria's Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board against New Zealanders. That night I receive a phone call from David Faulkner, who tells me the conciliator has been in touch. The MFB says it will amend its requirements, thus enabling New Zealand citizens who have entered Australia on a valid passport to apply for employment in the MFB.
The MFB boss told me that the changes were made to 'mirror' Victorian Government requirements. The MFB thought by doing this, then conciliation would not be necessary - it was wrong.
Unless David Faulkner receives an official apology, then both parties will enter conciliation with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Right Commission next month. According to David Faulkner, the apology he's seeking is on behalf of all New Zealanders, especially after the help visiting New Zealand fire fighters provided during the Black Saturday fires.
ONE News reported the back flip by the MFB the following
night.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentRedLady said on 2009-05-30 @ 07:36 NZDT: Report abusive post
I prefer the Shankley quote: " Even If Everton were playing down the bottom of my garden, I'd draw the curtains.” Hahah. Great blog and good luck to the Toffees!