Rural Firefighters 'Feel Betrayed'

Government Is ‘Re-Empowering’ Volunteer Firies: MP

Instead of betrayal, the State Government says it is re-empowering local volunteer firefighters.

Police and Community Safety Minister Jack Dempsey said the State Government was working with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service to re-empower local Rural Fire Brigades as part of a service restructure.

He said the restructure of the Rural Fire Service would remove a layer of management between head office and the volunteer firefighters on the ground along with red tape.

“The people who know rural firefighting best are those volunteers who live in their communities and have been running their local brigades for decades,” Mr Dempsey said.

“Over the past 10 years the number of RFS volunteers has remained stable while the number of management positions has doubled.

“This restructure will remove a layer of bureaucracy and management enabling local volunteer firefighters to again have more control of their service’s everyday operations and future.”

Mr Dempsey said the restructure of the Rural Fire Service management would not take place until after the current fire season.

“No changes to the management of the Rural Fire Service will occur until the current fire season ends in March next year,” he said.

“This is to ensure that current plans are fully implemented and allow the QFRS to implement the new structure during the low season.

“Although the State has a tight budget, this year the Government will provide 24 new rural fire vehicles and other financial support for equipment.”

September 12, 2012

The Rural Fire Brigades Association of Queensland says yesterday’s State Budget has “betrayed” rural fire fighters and “eviscerated” the Rural Fire Service.

The association says there has been a 57 per cent reduction in Rural Operations uniformed positions and a number of offices will be closed including the Maryborough, Brisbane and Toowoomba regional offices.

“This internal cost cutting has been directed at the provision of support to Rural Fire Brigades and Volunteer Fire-fighters who cover 93 per cent of Queensland,” an Association statement said.

“The RFBAQ feel completely betrayed by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, as not one cent of these savings will translate into extra equipment or financial support for the most poorly funded Rural Fire Service in the country.

“Instead, Rural Fire Brigades and volunteer firefighters in Queensland will now receive less support and training, the burden on Brigade secretaries will be manifoldly increased, and the 2600 Fire Wardens in Queensland will be left unsupported in their attempts to support their communities through the Permit to Burn system.”

The Association said Police Minister Jack Dempsey had assured the RFBAQ that Rural Fire Brigades would be better supported by the LNP Government.

“The Premier, Campbell Newman MP has written that Rural Fire Brigades will be better supported by the LNP Government and the Deputy Premier, Jeff Seeney MP has stated that Rural Fire Brigades will be better supported by the LNP Government,” the association said.

“The RFBAQ are now calling on the Premier, Deputy Premier and Minister to immediately stop the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service from implementing this betrayal which directly contravenes the Volunteer Charter as signed in July 2012 by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner, the Director General for Community Safety, the President of the RFBAQ and the Minister for Police and Community Safety.”

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