Vic CFA won't sign deal for legal reasons

Victoria's CFA won't sign a controversial pay deal because it breaches human rights laws.

But Industrial Relations Minister Natalie Hutchins says they need to get it done - and the terms aren't changing.

"The CFA board needs to stop stalling," Ms Hutchins told reporters on Thursday.

"This is the time to actually get to the table, sign the deal and to get on with it."

The CFA's board and chief executive released a joint statement rejecting the enterprise bargaining agreement with the United Firefighters Union for the second time in a week.

They said a number of clauses don't comply with the state's human rights laws.

"Given the legal advice we have received, CFA remains unable to sign the proposed EBA in its current form," the statement said.

Ms Hutchins also had to apologise for telling parliament that the president of the Fair Work Commission had said he supported the government's position on the deal.

"In an attempt to summarise complex issues for the house, I paraphrased in a way that unintentionally overstated the president's comments," Ms Hutchins said.

Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett, who put her career on the line on Monday to stop the pay deal being pushed through cabinet, continues to back the CFA.

That has put her at odds with Premier Daniel Andrews and the rest of the cabinet, who want the deal done.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said government MPs shouldn't leak to the media, but she stopped just short of specifically accusing Ms Garrett.

"There are people who have an agenda in this space and I think it's unacceptable," Ms Neville told reporters on Thursday.

"People should stop leaking."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has backed CFA volunteers and promised to change the Fair Work Act to support them if re-elected in July.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten says it's a state issue but has admitted meeting the secretary of the firefighters' union.

The government believes the deal will cost an extra $160 million over four years.