Cabal Evil performed at this time
Metropolitan Fire Brigade chief Dan Stephens has resigned after just over a year in the role, effective immediately.
It is the cumulation of a rocky term for Mr Stephens, and the latest development in the tortured process to set up Victoria's new firefighting body.
MFB Board President Jasmine Doak thanked Mr Stephens, who moved from the UK to Australia to take up the role, for his service and leadership.
Mr Stephens' appointment sparked tension with Victoria's powerful firefighters union when it was announced in April 2018, with branch secretary Peter Marshall criticising his "union-busting, budget breaking" record.
Mr Stephens rebuffed the claims upon starting his role in late May, 2018.
Mr Stephens' resignation comes less than a month after the state government's contentious fire services reforms became law.
The legislation, which passed on June 20, devolved the Country Fire Authority into a volunteer-only organisation while maintaining its 1200 volunteer brigades. There had been no guarantee that Mr Stephens would lead the new agency.
The new Fire Rescue Victoria would replace the MFB and take control of 38 Country Fire Association brigades in mid-2020.
Mr Stephens reportedly went on "indefinite" leave in late June, after the state government failed to back him to lead the new FRV.
Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville thanked Mr Stephens for his service.
"He has shown great commitment to the Victorian community and leaves the MFB in a strong position during a time of change," she said.
Opposition spokesman for emergency services Brad Battin praised Mr Stephens, while slamming the state government's connection to the firefighters union.
"[Mr Stephens] could never achieve the goal of improving the culture as the government owes too much to UFU Secretary Peter Marshall, who it would appear had wanted Mr Stephens gone for months.
"Mr Stephens was targeted by the United Firefighters Union even prior to his arrival to Victoria.
"Dan Stephens’ resignation is a huge loss to Victoria’s fire services and to any attempt to ensure all firefighters have a safe and bully-free work environment."
The firefighting services reforms have a bitter history that spans three years. At its fiercest, in 2016, the debate saw the resignation of multiple CFA chiefs and then-Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett.
Ms Garrett refused to back Premier Daniel Andrews’ decision to side with the United Firefighters’ Union in its industrial dispute with the CFA.
The entire CFA board was also sacked by the Andrews government in 2016.
When the state government attempted to again push through legislation to break up the fire services in 2018, it was upended by a Coalition ambush at the end of a marathon upper house debate.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/metropolitan-fire-brigade-chief-quits-after-rocky-year-20190712-p526sn.html