One of Victoria’s leading lawyers has warned the Premier’s plans to restructure the state’s fire services could put community safety at risk.

Legislation before the parliament will split the CFA and create separate paid and volunteer fire agencies.

The move will enable the government to pass the controversial industrial agreement with its career force.

Jack Rush QC, a volunteer firefighter who assisted the Royal Commission into the Black Saturday fires, told Neil Mitchell surge capacity will be affected.

“The response we saw on Black Saturday is threatened by the attack on CFA and volunteers,” he said.

“Look, what we’re seeing here is the undermining of the moral and ethos without any form of proper investigation.”

Click PLAY above for the full, exclusive interview