Aviation firefighters to strike after revelations Australian airports at ‘extreme risk’ during emergencies

Aviation firefighters will walk off the job amid revelations many of Australia’s airports, including the busiest in the country, are ill-equipped to handle emergencies. Leaked risk assessments carried out by Airservices Australia – the government body that provides air traffic control and airport firefighting services – reveal that Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide airports were found to be at extreme risk if there was a fire or aircraft incident because of a lack of firefighting resources. Sydney, Canberra and Hobart were deemed “high risk".The United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA) remains locked in tense enterprise agreement negotiations with Airservices Australia and the union has in recent months sought to sound the alarm over a range of issues, including claims that flights have been landing without fire crews – in breach of aviation laws. The fresh leaked internal documents were revealed by the UFUA, which has warned that its members will conduct a four-hour strike from 6am on 15 April as a result of safety concerns for the public. While the risk assessments were carried out between 2021 and 2022, the union believes the problems remain. Aviation leaders are concerned the industrial action could lead to disruptions for travellers, with 15 April coming at the end of the school holiday season. The Australian Airports Association CE, James Goodwin, said the aviation industry as a whole “urges the two parties to come to an agreement to resolve the situation”.<br/>