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The head of the Country Fire Authority has hit out at claims being made in automated phone calls warning a government shake-up of the state’s fire services will put families at risk as “irresponsible”.
CFA chief executive Frances Diver said she took the unusual step after the organisation was “flooded with complaints” from community members who received the calls.
“This is a highly irresponsible and unfounded claim and not an authorised message from CFA,” she said.
“CFA is deeply concerned that these calls may erode confidence in public safety and unfairly cause alarm across the community.”
Ms Diver said the CFA would urgently investigate the matter as a possible breach of privacy and take whatever action was necessary to protect the organisation’s integrity.
The state government is this week seeking to pass legislation splitting off the CFA as a volunteer-only service and creating a new Fire Rescue Victoria for paid firefighters.