Updated March 06, 2018 14:29:23

Photo: The union has previously said the agreement was designed to protect firefighters' safety. (Supplied: Steve Moore)

Some Melbourne firefighters will be entitled to nearly 200 days leave every year under a workplace deal the Victorian Government has been warned will entrench inequality in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

Premier Daniel Andrews is facing fresh pressure as Parliament resumes over an enterprise bargaining agreement with the United Firefighters Union (UFU) containing clauses allowing for a combined total of 196 days leave for some staff, which includes sick, personal and recreation leave and other loadings.

The 322-page deal also contains a suite of allowances, including for having a second language and for operating a drone.

It also includes the continuation of union consultation on operational matters which critics, including former management, have labelled a veto.

The UFU declined to comment, but in the past it has insisted the consultation provision is designed to protect firefighter safety.

Details of the workplace deal emerged as the Andrews Government tried to hose down concerns aired by the state's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission that it would not be compliant with industrial laws.

Photo: James Merlino said he was confident the deal complied with industrial laws. (ABC News)

Fairfax has also reported the consultation clauses would make it difficult to improve diversity.

The commission has prepared a report into sexism, bullying and harassment within the CFA and MFB, which the union is seeking to supress in the Supreme Court.

Leaked notes contained warnings from the commission about the workplace deal, following similar testimony from the MFB corporate secretary in the Federal Court last month that said concerns were ignored.

"Rather than responding to notes taken allegedly at some meeting, we'll wait for the final report to be tabled and then we will act on it," Premier Daniel Andrews told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"In terms of cultural issues within the CFA and MFB, we've been very clear about the need for cultural change to be made, that's why we've sent, as a Government, we've sent a reference off to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission."

'Regretful' equal opportunity report notes leaked

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights commissioner Kristen Hilton said confidential draft extracts were shared with the MFB, the CFA and "other key stakeholders" prior to the report's publication.

"This allows the agencies to provide feedback, suggestions and corrections, which the commission must and will consider before it publishes its report," she said in a statement.

"We regret that notes from a confidential briefing to the MFB appear to have been leaked to the press before the report is complete. The notes do not necessarily represent the commission's final report."

Firefighting a 'dangerous occupation'

In relation to the workplace deal, which includes a 19 per cent pay rise over the life of the agreement and expires in July 2019, Government ministers said firefighters deserved respect.

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said he was confident the workplace agreement would comply with equal opportunity industrial laws.

He also said there was a formal commitment from the union and management to tackle inequality.

Mr Merlino said firefighters had been "vilified by the Opposition".

"Our firefighters deserve the security and respect of a workplace agreement, these are brave men and women who put their lives on the line to save property and lives," Mr Merlino said.

"If you are in a burning home and you have got a firefighter bashing through the door to save you and your children, do you think you care what they are paid? What allowances they receive? This is a dangerous occupation."

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the Government had questions to answer.

"This is a stinking rorting mess that the Premier and the Emergency Services Minister have created and presided over, and continue to condone," Mr Guy said.

He also said the Premier had to clear up why the advice of the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission was ignored.

The long-running industrial dispute in both the CFA and MFB has been a political problem for the Andrews Government for some time.

Former minister Jane Garrett quit her post in 2016 rather than forcing the CFA board to agree to a union deal which was backed by the Premier.

And the Labor Government faced a backlash from CFA volunteers and their supporters over flagged reforms of the state's fire services.

There are members of the Government who said they were still baffled at the backing the UFU has received from the Premier.

Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, unions, government-and-politics, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted March 06, 2018 12:43:25