Leaked MFB report shows systematic issues

A damning report highlighting the extent of alleged bullying, sexism and substance abuse in the MFB has been leaked as the union fights to keep the report secret.

The 59 page report, detailed in the Herald Sun, calls for drug and alcohol testing, greater diversity and greater mental health support for fire fighters.

The report shows just 4 per cent of firefighters are women all but one of the female fire fighters interviewed said they’d been harassed.

The union on Monday went to court to block the report from being published and is due to return to the Fair Work Commission. 

The author of the report, Dr Peter Cotton, says the aim is to help fire fighters get the support they need to prevent further suicides.

Some of the recommendations included better mental health support, drug and alchol testing as well as fitness for duty assessments.