Firefighters across New South Wales will soon be the most protected in Australia when it comes to compensation for cancer diagnoses, after a bill passed the state's upper house overnight.

It will now go to the lower house today.

The bill would see more than 20 types of presumptive cancers covered, including those that affect women.

• Guests:

  Cathy McQuade, advocate 

  Leighton Drury, State Secretary of the New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees Union.

• Producer: Brooke Young