A bitterly fought dispute over union control in Victoria's Country Fire Authority (CFA) is threatening Labor's chances in key seats in the federal election.

Key points: CFA dispute set to have implications in federal election

CFA dispute set to have implications in federal election Volunteer firefighters threaten to take their anger out on federal Labor

Volunteer firefighters threaten to take their anger out on federal Labor Liberal Party campaigning hard on the issue

The industrial relations row has already felled a state minister and the CFA's board, as the United Firefighters Union (UFU) presses its case for a new enterprise agreement.

Even though it is a state issue, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has weighed in, and many of the CFA's 60,000 volunteer firefighters are vowing to take their anger out on Labor in the federal election to punish their Victorian counterparts.

Among them is Wye River CFA captain Roy Moriarty, who led the battle against the devastating Christmas bushfires on the Great Ocean Road.

"I've voted Labor all my life and it's almost gut-wrenching to think that, 'no, I'm not going to vote Labor this time'," he told 7.30.

These words, reluctantly uttered, will send a shiver through the spines of Labor's numbers men in Canberra.

The party is aiming to win key marginal seats in the state, and needs to retain others, if it is to form government.

The workplace agreement dispute reached a climax two weeks ago when Premier Daniel Andrews sacked the CFA board, and Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett resigned, along with CFA CEO Lucinda Nolan.

The board and the minister opposed the enterprise bargaining agreement.

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Liberals running hard on CFA dispute

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 7 minutes 33 seconds 7 m CFA dispute spills into federal election campaign

Mr Moriarty lives in Corangamite, which Labor had hoped to wrest back from Liberal Sarah Henderson.

But internal Labor research is showing the State Government's handling of the CFA dispute has boosted its chances in Corangamite and two other key Labor targets, Dunkley and Latrobe.

"Because [the role of the CFA] is something that is very dear to people's hearts, then it will become an issue that will potentially alter their vote," said Dr Andrea Carson, lecturer in media and politics at the University of Melbourne.

"This is an issue that particularly plays well for the LNP."

The Liberal Party knows it, and is campaigning hard on the issue.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has joined CFA volunteers protesting in Melbourne. ( ABC News: Helen Brown )

It set up the Hands Off the CFA website, has been distributing posters and has sent the Prime Minister and other senior ministers to speak to angry volunteers, infuriating Acting Emergency Services Minister James Merlino.

"So we've got this grubby website set up by the Liberal Party on this issue, trying to solicit donations to the Liberal Party. It's just a disgrace, they are not interested in ending this dispute, they are pitting firefighters against firefighters," Mr Merlino said.

The campaign seems to be paying off.

7.30 has learned internal Labor research has thrown up not only the marginal Labor seat of McEwen as being in danger, but also the safe Labor seat of Jagajaga, held by frontbencher Jenny Macklin.

Acting Emergency Services Minister James Merlino.

While Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has repeatedly tried to bat away concerns of the threat, saying it is a state issue, Mr Merlino said there is a war of misinformation.

"I think there are a number of people led by the [Victorian] Opposition fear-mongering, misinformation, downright lies, and this has raised concern in the community," he said.

'I've never been angrier about politics'

In the country town of Broadford, in the seat of McEwen, the anger is white hot and real.

Local CFA captain Jamie Atkins said he is disgusted at the way the Victorian Labor Government sacked the CFA board for refusing to sign the workplace agreement.

"I think it's absolutely wrong ... that's a dictatorship," he told 7.30.

"I'm pretty sure we live in a democracy in Australia. To sack [the board] at the click of your fingers and have a new one come in four hours later, what the hell is going on here?"

A number of Mr Atkins' volunteers are already actively campaigning against Labor, and will be at polling stations on July 2 making their feelings known.

"I can't say I've ever been angrier about politics," said Jay Martin, a volunteer firefighter in Broadford for 22 years.

"Bill's been incredibly quiet on this, and federal Labor have been incredibly quiet.

"So in the absence of the verbal support of us, we only have to assume that they support the union's position.