May 7, 2020
The LNP has described the potential sacking of almost 5000 Rural Fire Brigade volunteers over their failure to apply for Blue Cards as “a disgrace”.
Volunteers have been warned by letter (see below) they will be sacked if they do not apply for the cards within 30 days.
Shadow Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Lachlan Millar said the looming mass sacking was “the latest example of the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s appalling treatment of rural firies”.
“It is an absolute disgrace that those volunteers, who have stood on the frontline defending their communities, are being kicked out over paperwork,” Mr Millar said.
“A mass exodus of thousands of rural fire brigade volunteers is happening right now and it must be stopped.
“Queensland can’t afford to have thousands of rural firies walk away.
“The fact that some regions will be losing half their brigade members right before fire season is alarming.
“Community safety is important, but the Blue Card requirement process demanded by Annastacia Palaszczuk has been bungled from day one.
“It’s time for Annastacia Palaszczuk to fix this mess before it’s too late.”
Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said last year the State Government had received legal advice that Blue Card screening should be introduced for all QFES staff and volunteers.
The requirement extended to paid QFES staff, auxiliary firefighters and SES volunteers as well as Rural Fire Brigade volunteers.
This was because their duties included reducing danger to members of the public, which overlapped with the definition of health service providers in the Working With Children Act.
The deadline to apply for a Blue Card has been extended on several occasions but 4904 RFB volunteers have not yet applied.
Minister Crawford said this week more than 80 volunteer firefighters who have applied for Blue Cards have had their applications rejected.
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The letter received by RFS volunteers who have not applied yet for a Blue Card (supplied by the LNP):
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It would be nice if Minister Crawford would describe in some decent detail why the rejections actually happened and then we may be able to understand what at present seems to be utterly stupid. No names needed; only reasons! Hey, not only nice but very necessary in fact!