Fire Brigade Employees Union country sub branch secretary Tim Anderson says the union will write to the NSW Government for more details on the proposed workers compensation entitlements for firefighters suffering from certain types of cancer.

The Workers Compensation (Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights to Compensation) Bill 2018 was tabled in the NSW Parliament on Wednesday.

Mr Anderson said it was not clear whether the proposed legislation provides coverage to retired firefighters and those who contracted cancer before the start date. 

The NSW Government announced on September 27 that “anyone who is diagnosed from today onwards will be entitled to the presumption, subject to the passing of this legislation”.

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Mr Anderson said there were many firefighters who had already been diagnosed with cancer.  

“We need clarification about what would happen to those firefighters who have qualified through their length of service and contracted cancer before the start date [September 27, 2018],” he said. 

“The Liberals announced that all firefighters would be covered from this date forward. The question is what happens to those who contracted cancer prior to their announcement. 

“We at the union will be writing to the government asking for these clarifications.”

Mr Anderson said the union was also concerned about the six-month window for making a claim under the proposed legislation.

“It is a very small window. Those who have contracted cancer and don’t start the claim can be excluded from the legislation,” he said.

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Mr Anderson said scientific evidence suggests firefighters contract cancer at a higher rate than the general population and, until now, they have been forced to prove the time, date and place of cancer infection before they could claim workers compensation.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Deputy Commissioner Mal Connellan said the proposed legislation changes the burden of proof.

“The amendments reverse the onus of proof for firefighters and do not impose a limit on accessing the provision post-employment, which will ensure our firefighters, who risk their own life and health to protect the people of NSW, promptly receive their entitlements when they need it most,” he said.

Such provisions have already been introduced in most other states and territories over the past seven years.

The amendments are expected to benefit career and volunteer firefighters.