Female firefighter hits out at secret report, feels ‘used’ by Jane Garrett

A female firefighter has accused State Emergency Services minister Jane Garrett of using a secret report to push an anti-male agenda.

An emotional Emily Trimble told 3AW Mornings she was furious with claims there’s a ‘culture of bullying’ within the brigade and that she and many of her female colleagues felt ‘used’ by the state government.

‘She (Jane Garrett) has brought up the gender card to fight a political battle,’ Ms Trimble said.

She said the report was adding extra stress on firefighters leading into what is expected to be a dangerous summer.

‘All we want to do is be fire fighters,’ Ms Trimble said.

‘We’re a family.’

Just three per cent of the state’s full-time firefighting staff are women, with 15 per cent of volunteers female.

But Ms Trimble said she’d never seen or experienced any form of sexism or bullying.

‘She’s making the men sound like they’re bigots and that it’s a boys club when it’s just not the facts,’ she explained.

‘They’re our friends.

‘You can’t go into a burning building with somebody you don’t trust.’

Click PLAY below to hear Emily’s emotional call to 3AW.