Firefighters Suffer CANCER More Than The General Population
Presumptive Cancer Legislation; What is it?
Presumptive legislation requires the Government to identify, through regulations, specific cancers of Firefighters that are presumed to be work-related for the purpose of the Workers’ Rehabilitation & Compensation Act. At the present time there are 12 recognised cancers.
This type of legislation was first passed in Canada in 2007 followed shortly thereafter by Australia.
In 2011, after significant campaigning by the United Firefighters Union, the Australian Commonwealth Government introduced legislation to provide for presumptive protection for career firefighters who contracted any one of 12 specified cancers listed in the table below.
After further campaigning by the United Fire Fighters Union, the SA Government passed amendments to the SA Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act in 2013. These amendments now require the same presumption of the 12 specific cancers to be deemed work related unless proven otherwise.
Schedule 3 of the 2007 SAMFS Firefighters award contain the presumptive requirements relating to cancers which drastically affect Firefighters.
Presumptive Cancers For 2023 Campaign
| Description Of Cancer | Qualifying Period for Presumptive Legislation |
|---|---|
| Primary Site Brain Cancer | 5 Years |
| Primary Site Bladder Cancer | 15 Years |
| Primary Site Kidney Cancer | 15 Years |
| Primary Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma | 15 Years |
| Primary Site Leukemia | 5 Years |
| Primary Site Breast Cancer | 10 Years |
| Primary Site Testicular Cancer | 10 Years |
| Multiple Myeloma | 15 Years |
| Primary Site Prostate Cancer | 15 Years |
| Primary Site Ureter Cancer | 15 Years |
| Primary Site Colorectal Cancer | 15 Years |
| Primary Site Oesophageal Cancer | 25 Years |
Brain Cancer
3.5 x more likely
5 Years Qualifying Period
Oesophageal Cancer
3 x more likely
25 Years Qualifying Period
Breast Cancer
2 x more likely
10 Years Qualifying Period
Kidney Cancer
4 x more likely
15 Years Qualifying Period
Ureter Cancer
2.5 x more likely
15 Years Qualifying Period
Prostate Cancer
2 x more likely
15 Years Qualifying Period
Testicular Cancer
2.5 x more likely
10 Years Qualifying Period
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
3.5 x more likely
15 Years Qualifying Period
Leukaemia
3 x more likely
5 Years Qualifying Period
Multiple Myeloma
2.5 x more likely
15 Years Qualifying Period
Bladder Cancer
3 x more likely
15 Years Qualifying Period
Colorectal Cancer
2 x more likely
15 Years Qualifying Period
Campaign To Extend Presumptive Cancer Provisions For Firefighters
The UFUSA continues to campaign to increase the number of cancers covered under the presumptive legislation from 12 to 20. If we are successful, lung, skin, cervical, ovarian, penile, pancreatic, thyroid and mesothelioma cancers will be included.
These changes were recently won for firefighters federally where Federal Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke has increased protections for firefighters by regulation. We also welcome the Tasmanian Governments announcement to expand cancer protection for professional firefighters and congratulate our Tasmanian colleagues on their successful action. The UFUSA has given evidence to the South Australian Legislative Council Select Committee on Return to Work, where we put forward our argument to extend the presumptive legislation.
A UFUSA delegation has also recently met with the SA Attorney General Kyam Maher to discuss with him our proposal and concerns in regard to Presumptive Cancers. The meeting was positive, and it was agreed further work would occur on costing the change, although we do believe that there is no cost that can be put on protecting firefighters. A meeting with Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs was also scheduled which gives the UFUSA further opportunity to put our case to the SA Government and explore timeframes for implementation.
On Wednesday 19 April 2023 the UFUSA’s campaign for extending the presumptive cancer legislation was reported in the Advertiser. The paper was interested in the union evidence that the current legislation does not include reproductive cancers for female fighters.
Prescribed Kinds Of Cancers
| Description Of Cancer | Qualifying Period for Presumptive Legislation |
|---|---|
| Lung Cancer | 15 Years |
| Skin Cancer | 15 Years |
| Cervical Cancer | 10 Years |
| Ovarian Cancer | 10 Years |
| Penile Cancer | 15 Years |
| Pancreatic Cancer | 10 Years |
| Thyroid Cancer | 10 Years |
| Mesothelioma Cancer | 15 Years |
Thyroid Cancer
3 x more likely
5 Years Qualifying Period
Lung Cancer
2 x more likely
5 Years Qualifying Period
Skin Cancer
4 x more likely
5 Years Qualifying Period
Cervical Cancer
2 x more likely
5 Years Qualifying Period
Penile Cancer
2 x more likely
5 Years Qualifying Period
Pancreatic Cancer
2.5 x more likely
10 Years Qualifying Period
Mesothelioma
3.5 x more likely
15 Years Qualifying Period
Ovarian Cancer
2 x more likely
5 Years Qualifying Period
