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May 15th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Updated
Legislation which would allow compensation for Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers diagnosed with cancer has passed the South Australian Parliament’s upper house.
The bill, moved by Greens MLC Tammy Franks, was supported by upper house members other than Labor.
Ms Franks wants to see volunteers who meet service requirements able to be compensated if they contract one of 12 types of cancer which have been scientifically linked with fighting fires.
She has told State Parliament the Government’s compensation plan only covers full-time firefighters and excludes part-timers.
“The Government has announced a scheme where they’ve recognised that science, but they’ve only recognised it with regard to what they called – very disparagingly I believe – professional firefighters in this state,” she said.
“They meant full-time permanent MFS (Metropolitan Fire Service) when they said that.
“I would say every other MP has recognised the professionality (sic) of our CFS.”
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state-parliament,
states-and-territories,
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political-parties,
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emergency-planning,
volunteers,
cancer,
health,
diseases-and-disorders,
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mount-gambier-5290,
port-augusta-5700,
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First posted
Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-16/upper-house-backs-firefighters-cancer-bill/4693030
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