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The United Firefighters Union of Australia – Aviation Branch (UFUAV) is seeking to pressure industry super funds over a potential sale-and-leaseback of aviation rescue firefighting facilities.
Super funds with ties to the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), which is reportedly the preferred bidder for the proposal, are being pushed to “carefully investigate” their involvement with QIC, with UFUAV saying they should look into whether members’ retirement savings could be used.
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Union-linked funds with ties to QIC include Australian Retirement Trust, Brighter Super, Hostplus and HESTA.
“Workers would be deeply concerned if their retirement savings were in any way associated with supporting the privatisation of an emergency service that exists to save lives,” said UFUAV secretary Wes Garrett.
“Unions and industry super funds may not yet be aware that their members’ retirement savings could have a connection to this proposal.
“But it’s clear that Union members particularly, will likely not be comfortable with Peter Dutton having direction over investment decisions that could see their retirement savings used to pursue the privatisation of frontline emergency services.
“Workers and their unions have every right to ask whether they are comfortable with retirement savings being associated in any way with the commercialisation of a frontline emergency service.”
Airservices provides ARFF services at 27 of the country’s busiest airports, and operates a fleet of more than 100 firefighting vehicles.
According to an Essential Report survey of over 1,000 Australians in late March cited by the union, 60 per cent of respondents said Airservices’ ARFF assets should stay under government control, which Garrett said helps show ARFF is “fundamentally not suitable for commercial ownership”.
“Aviation firefighting is a not a money-making enterprise, it is a vital emergency service dedicated to protecting the lives of Australia’s air travellers,” he said.
“To deliver on its mission, aviation rescue firefighting must remain focused on operational preparedness, maintenance and response times, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death, not on shareholder returns.
“The introduction of a profit motive into that system raises very serious public safety questions.”
The UFUAV has also noted the recent appointment of former Liberal leader Peter Dutton to the QIC board, and says it is talking to its union allies to “build a united front against the use of workers’ retirement funds to privatise essential services and undermine employment conditions”.
“We know the privatisation of emergency services hasn’t worked overseas, why are we attempting to introduce it here?” said Garrett.
“Firefighters strongly do not believe critical emergency response capability should be treated as a financial product. We do not believe workers and fellow Union members would want their retirement savings associated with that either.
“Peter Dutton and his agenda were roundly rejected by Australians at the last Federal election. Let’s not now hand him our retirement savings to pursue the privatisation of Australia’s emergency services.”
In a statement in March, an Airservices spokesperson said many of its firefighting assets are at or approaching end-of-life and that the “cooperative arrangement” would allow it to “access the funding required to modernise Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting assets faster”.
“Under this proposal, an Australian strategic investment partner would own, maintain, improve and replace ARFF vehicles, equipment and facilities. The approach would accelerate investment in new assets without changing the work our people do,” the spokesperson said.
“Airservices will continue to deliver ARFF, Air Traffic Control, and all enabling functions as required under the Air Services Act 1995, and retain full accountability for regulatory and safety compliance.
“Airservices has been actively engaging with stakeholders including government, our staff and their union representatives since December, and provided detailed information and documentation about the proposal.
“We will continue to consult with stakeholders throughout April and will keep our stakeholders updated on any developments.”
Airservices has told Australian Aviation that it is “currently exploring a strategic partnership proposal to fund the modernisation of Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) assets”.
“Airservices started actively consulting staff, union representatives and government in December, and no decision has been taken to proceed with any proposal,” a spokesperson said.
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