Premier attacks firefighters over protest timing
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Ms Bligh labelled the protest "irresponsible". (ABC TV News-file image)
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has criticised firefighters for the time and place of a protest rally in Brisbane today.
Up to 100 members of the United Firefighters Union (UFU) rallied outside the Fire Service Training Academy at White Island as part of their campaign for a pay increase.
Ms Bligh says an anti-terrorism exercise was underway at the time of the protest.
"I think the actions out there at White Island today were very irresponsible," she said.
"But the exercise itself is very important in terms of our preparedness for terrorism attacks.
"I suspect that in a real-life terrorism attack the police would in fact have to deal with unexpected incidents and I understand they dealt with it very well this morning."
The UFU is at odds with the State Government over a wage claim.
UFU spokesman Henry Lawrence says firefighters are entitled to a significant pay rise.
"The purpose of the rally was in support of our work value claim, and was a protest against the treatment of firefighters in the context of the very poor offer that's been made to them for significant increases in the value of the work they perform," he said.
