A controversial agreement due to be imposed on Victoria’s Country Fire Authority (CFA) will have a significant detrimental impact on bushfire preparedness, an inquiry has heard.

The enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) has been criticised as handing unprecedented control of the CFA to the United Firefighters Union (UFU).

In a submission to Victoria’s Inquiry into Fire Season Preparedness, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria warns the deal’s consequences must be considered.

“The proposed agreement, which is currently the subject of significant agency and volunteer concern, will have a significant and potentially very detrimental impact on Victoria fire season preparedness and response capability,” CEO Andrew Ford said.

“It will be of interest to the committee that the outgoing emergency services minister, the recently sacked CFA board and the recently resigned CFA CEO all raised serious concerns about the serious negative impact that this current CFA/UFU operational staff EBA log of claims will have on the ability for the CFA to function into the future.”

The inquiry is expected to issue its report by December 8.