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In and around 2010 there was an interesting debate in Australia over an equality plan that was 6 years in the making (I had some early input on this). What made it particularly interesting was that the union resisted the plan. Even more interesting was after the plan was issued, it was withdrawn. Government Ministers were involved, and the outcome became very difficult for the equality workers in Melbourne.

The Melbourne Equality Action Plan 

Fighting fires or fighting male hegemony  as a PDF comments by interested parties 

Baigent, D. (2010). “Fighting fires or fighting male hegemony?” ON LINE OPINION – Australia’s e-journal of social and political debate.

Interview with the president of Melbourne Fire Brigades who resigned in protest

Statement on line by Adrian Nye ex chair of MFB – MFB an ‘intractably sick’ organisation. PDF

Online interview by Adrian Nye

Mr Nye says the core struggle is about control of the organisation. (MFB)

VIDEO: Bullying culture claims (ABC News)
AUDIO: Former MFB board chairman Adrian Nye explains why he quit. (ABC News)
MAP: Melbourne 3000
The former long-serving chairman of Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) says he quit the board in disgust over the entrenched culture of bullying and unionism.


Schneiders, B. (2010). Sparks fly over fire brigades’s attempts to recruit more women. The Age 

More from the age 

Even more from the age

Sparks fly

Three reports by Sue Lewis for MFB 2004
Lewis, S. (2004). “Gender and Firefighting.”

Lewis, S. (2004). “Gender and Firefighter Training.”

Lewis, S. (2004). “Gender and Firefighter Selection and Recruitment”