Proposal to extend CFS members same protection as professionals Michael Pearce, group officer of the Sturt Country Fire Service, at the Belair CFS station. VOLUNTEER firefighters would be eligible for compensation if they develop cancers linked to fighting fires under proposals being examined by the State Government. The move follows concern about volunteer Country Fire Service members not being covered if they develop cancers which may be linked to service given fighting fires, unlike professional Metropolitan Fire Service officers, who will be covered under new legislation before Parliament. However, a compromise to keep the change cost neutral may see a system where both CFS and MFS members would be required to attend a certain number of call-outs before they became eligible for ­compensation. Emergency Services Minister Michael O'Brien met with Tasmania Fire Service Chief Officer Mike Brown on Wednesday to discuss this issue. Tasmania is set to become the first state to offer workers compensation to its volunteer firefighters if they develop cancer. Western Australia is also examining the issue. Mr O'Brien confirmed the Government is looking at ­options to include volunteers in the scope of the legislation. "Our aim is to ensure equity between professional and volunteer firefighters as far as this is possible," Mr O'Brien said. Mr O'Brien did not elaborate on how far the proposal has been developed but it is understood it may go to Cabinet for discussion as early as this week. The Bill now before Parliament would allow career ­firefighters to access compensation for 12 types of cancers without proving there is a work-related link. The CFS has argued thousands of volunteers face the same risks and should be covered as well. Executive director of the Country Fire Service Volunteers Association Sonia St Alban has argued that fire, smoke and hazardous situations do not discriminate between paid firefighters and volunteers, who are at the same risk of contracting the same types of cancers. Ms St Alban said it was positive to hear volunteers may be included under a new proposal but she had concerns over using the number of call-outs as eligibility criteria. "We certainly believe volunteers should have been included right from the start," Ms St Alban said. Until there is evidence that you need to attend a certain number of fires to contract a cancer, that method doesn't hold tight. You might just attend the one incident but that's the one that leads to cancer because of a certain carcinogen. Ms St Alban said the association would simply like to see volunteers included in the current legislation before Parliament. "It should be fair and equitable," she said. The Greens also have refused to back the legislation unless it is extended to include volunteers. With Ben Hyde