Volunteer firefighters across New Zealand are rallying behind a petition seeking equal ACC coverage with their paid colleagues.
Katherine Lamont, a member of the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade, has launched a parliamentary petition calling for urgent amendments to ACC legislation. The petition aims to secure equitable coverage and benefits for volunteer firefighters who currently lack crucial support for work-related illnesses and injuries.
Under current ACC law, volunteer firefighters are excluded from coverage because their duties aren’t classified as “employment,” given they don’t receive taxable wages. This exclusion has significant implications, leaving volunteers without protection or compensation for illnesses and injuries sustained in their firefighting roles.
The United Fire Brigades’ Association (UFBA), representing over 12,000 volunteer firefighters nationwide, has thrown its full support behind Lamont’s initiative.
“We proudly support Katherine and our members standing up for what they believe in,” the UFBA said in a statement. “This initiative aligns closely with our Fairness and Equity Campaign, aimed at improving volunteer firefighter protections under ACC.”
Currently, volunteer firefighters face significant challenges under the existing ACC framework. They are ineligible for compensation related to work-induced mental health conditions unless linked to a single traumatic incident. Gradual or cumulative trauma exposure, common in firefighting roles, isn’t recognised.
Additionally, illnesses such as cancer, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and musculoskeletal issues, often resulting from prolonged exposure to hazardous environments, remain uncovered for volunteers. While paid firefighters have access to dedicated assessments, such as toxicology panels for cancer diagnosis, volunteers do not have similar protections.
“It’s important that this petition is led by our members,” the UFBA emphasised, highlighting the collective power of their volunteer base. “This isn’t just the UFBA as an organisation pushing for change—it’s about the 12,000 individuals and their families who deserve better support.”
The UFBA is urging all its members to sign and promote the petition, which closes on 30 April 2025. They continue advocating at a national political level, stressing that grassroots involvement from volunteers themselves will be critical to achieving legislative change.
“Our aim is for these combined efforts to reach decision-makers and secure fair treatment for all volunteer firefighters,” the UFBA said.
The petition can be signed here: https://petitions.parliament.nz/5872f736-ed2f-443c-f919-08dd5b668762.
