By Bonny Burrows
Embattled Gembrook MP Brad Battin has been publicly reprimanded by the Victorian Parliament for his Black Saturday comments.
On 25 May, State Parliament censured Mr Battin, who also holds the shadow emergency services portfolio, for his “dishonest and offensive remarks” made during an earlier parliamentary session which “denigrated” the service of Black Saturday firefighters.
During question time on 10 May, the shadow minister incorrectly stated that no career firefighters were on the ground for first 5 1/2 hours of Black Saturday.
Trying to hose down the mistake, he later stated he was referring to the Bunyip State Park fire, but this too has been proven incorrect.
Since the faux pas, the Labor State Government has repeatedly called for the local MP to step down; however Mr Battin has refused to resign from his shadow emergency services portfolio.
So on 25 May, the parliamentary majority voted to censure Mr Battin for his comments, after reportedly refusing to “explain himself” or apologise in parliament.
Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said Black Saturday firefighters were heroes, and deserved to be “treated with honour and respect, not lied about in the Victorian Parliament.”
“Matthew Guy needs to show some leadership and sack the embattled Brad Battin,” he said.
“If he does not do so, he stands condemned as someone who supports his shadow minister’s disgraceful slurs.”
An undeterred Mr Battin told the Gazette he wouldn’t be silenced.
“The Andrews Government have bullied out the former Minister for Emergency Services, the CFA CEO, CFA Chief Officer, sacked the CFA board, failed to consult with Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, and now they want to silence me,” Mr Battin said.
“All those named have one thing in common; we stand up for volunteers and want to protect them for the future.”
