As mentioned in our March 2024 Noosa 360 update, Sandy met with our local Rural Fire Brigade (now known as the Rural Fire Service) representatives on their concerns regarding the Disaster Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024. The Bill has now passed in Parliament along with three other emergency related bills in a cognate debate which is inappropriate, severely limiting the time available for Members of Parliament (MPs) to speak on the issues raised and disrespects our democracy and Queenslanders.

The following is an extract from Sandy’s speech during the cognate debate, which was undelivered (guillotined) due to these time constraints:

The Disaster Management Bill, which creates the Queensland Fire Department, consisting of Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) and the Rural Fire Service (RFS), has raised major concerns.

Since the bill’s introduction into Parliament our office has received multiple representations by rural firefighters who expressed their dismay that the Bill does not implement what they were promised. 

Some of their issues appear to have been addressed, however 3 requests remain unaddressed.

First, that they will have an independent Commissioner. Second, they will have a separate quarantined budget. Third, local control and decision making remains with the RFS officers and crew when on the ground fighting bush fires.

From submissions received, these are essential to be addressed to avoid alienating our rural fire brigade volunteers across QLD, their families and communities.

Given that Victoria has gone through a similar situation, ultimately, they developed two separate entities due to the opposition of their rural firies. This as they required, as ours are seeking, – autonomy on the ground, as well ‘buy in’ to the decision-making process.

It is for this reason I oppose Clause 31 which combines the two fire services under one Commissioner.

We are in a time where we need to retain our volunteers, not lose them. Across the state many of our not-for-profit organisation volunteers are aging and facing challenges with attracting the next generation.

They are experiencing the same hardships we are seeing with paid frontliners, including housing and cost of living pressures.

We need to always do more and listening to their concerns is vital.

Statements of Reservations for the Bill raised these matters as well lack of information for volunteers on how the new setup will operate for the transfer of equipment etc.  The ‘devil in the detail’ is always of concern.

Given the concerns raised regarding the Disaster Management Bill, I cannot support in its current State.

Thank you to the Minister, the Committees and Secretariats and especially all those who have provided feedback. Again, our deep gratitude to all of our emergency volunteers for what you do every day. May the changes end the many challenges you previously faced, and the concerns raised be addressed.

A copy of the full speech is available at www.sandybolton.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Cognate-speech-EM-SES-MRQ-RFS-Bills.pdf.

As mentioned above, Sandy will monitor whether any of the concerns raised be realised.

Further information

A reminder expanded training resources for our rural and volunteer firefighter training, as well for non-voluntary staff have been funded following advocacy from our office and others. More information is available at www.sandybolton.com/fire-and-emergency-personnel-development-august-2023

For those wishing to contact the relevant Queensland Minister, please email fdrc@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please copy in our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.

For our previous Noosa 360 update on this, please visit www.sandybolton.com/rural-fire-brigade-structure-changes-disaster-management-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2024-march-2024

Updates on many local matters are available on Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360. To receive information straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter via www.sandybolton.com/newsletters. This also ensures you receive any future Noosa related surveys or polls.