October 10, 2012
Queensland Community Safety Minister Jack Dempsey has released the Terms of Reference for the review into the Rural Fire Service.
Mr Dempsey announced the review last month and said it would provide volunteers with the opportunity to have input into the future structure, function, leadership and funding of the RFS.
“A Review Team, chaired by the Member for Mirani Ted Malone, will hold a series of meetings across the State to gather important information towards providing advice to me on the future of the RFS,” Mr Dempsey said.
Under the Terms of Reference, Mr Malone and the Review Team will advise Minister Dempsey on:
- The appropriateness of the current functions of the Rural Fire Service
- A structure that provides leadership and service focused support to frontline firefighters while reducing unnecessary reporting, bureaucracy and red tape
- A support structure that recognises the different needs, training requirements and autonomy levels of the various classes of brigade
- The place of the Rural Fire Service within fire services more generally
- Ways to boost frontline resources by identifying areas and roles where efficiencies can be made
- Ways to support brigades in their management of risk, in areas such as fire prevention and land management
- Alternative means of funding rural fire services
- Ways to increase empowerment of rural fire brigades and personnel at the local level
- Ways to improve cooperation at a local level between the rural fire services and the State Emergency Service including the role of Emergency Service Units
- Other relevant matters
The members of the Review Team will be:
- Neil Gallant, Assistant Commissioner Rural Operations, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS)
- Bryan Cifuentes, Area Director Rural Operations, Cairns Peninsula District, QFRS
- Andrew Houley, Biodiversity Manager with Reef Catchments and former member of Rural Operations with QFRS
- Mike Garrahy, President of the Rural Fire Brigades Association of Queensland
- Troy Davies, Department of Community Safety
Mr Malone said the timing and locations for meetings with volunteers across the State were still being finalised
“I’ve already held some meetings with volunteers personally and look forward to hearing from others about how they think the Rural Fire Service should operate in Queensland,” Mr Malone said.
“Rural Fire Service volunteers know their business and will certainly have a lot of input into how improvements can be made.”
Mr Dempsey said Mr Malone’s review would be completed by the end of February, 2013.
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