CODE 2, VOL 34, NO 65 : 14 december 2020

MINISTER RYAN CALLS FOR REVIEW OF QFES:
WANTS TO KNOW ‘WHAT WORKS’ AND ‘WHAT DOESN’T’

You will be well aware that your state UFUQ has long held the position that the way QFES is structured doesn’t work. I also think that the current levy collection and allocation process doesn’t work, and also that the legislation to support your role as professional and auxiliary firefighters and fire communication officers doesn’t work.

Structure.
Funding.
Legislation. 

I am pleased to report that it would appear as though the Minister for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (The Hon Mr Mark Ryan MP) is thinking the same thing.

During the Queensland Parliament Estimates Hearing on 14 December 2020, Minister Ryan stated the following –

‘Chair, today I can announce a planned review into the structure of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to determine whether the current structure best suits the needs of a post COVID-19 world and the needs of Queensland communities in an ever-changing environment where disasters on a global scale are increasing in frequency and intensity.
The aim of this review is to determine what works, what doesn’t and what can work better.  It’s in the best interests of safety to do so.’

I cannot overstate the importance of this review, and the changes that your union will seek as a result of it.

After hearing from many of you about how the failure that is QFES is impacting your work, I will be conveying in no uncertain terms to the Minister and to the review ‘what works’ and ‘what doesn’t’. I look forward to action finally being taken on the urgent need for change in QFES. 

I will keep you updated with further information regularly as this process gets underway.

John Oliver - General Secretary

 

 

Authorised by John Oliver General Secretary 
United Firefighters' Union of Australia, Union of Employees QLD

V35 #1 CLARIFICATION OF PUBLIC HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENTS

It would not be the Christmas and New Year period without some confusion regarding what members are entitled to claim on the many public holidays across the period. As a reminder, the relevant public holidays were –

v34#67 MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

In this edition - There is no doubt that for so many here in Queensland and all over the world, 2020 has been a challenging year, but it is drawing to a close and the Christmas and New Year period is again upon us.

v34#65 MINISTER RYAN CALLS FOR REVIEW OF QFES: WANTS TO KNOW ‘WHAT WORKS’ AND ‘WHAT DOESN’T’

In this edition - You will be well aware that your state UFUQ has long held the position that the way QFES is structured doesn’t work. I also think that the current levy collection and allocation process doesn’t work, and also that the legislation to support your role as professional and auxiliary firefighters and fire communication officers doesn’t work.

v34#64 - UPDATE: PROGRESS OF PRESUMPTIVE LEGISLATION FOR PTSI

In this edition - As you will recall, in August 2020, a Bill to modify Queensland’s workers’ compensation laws to include presumptive legislation for Post-traumatic Stress Injury was introduced to state parliament and referred to a parliamentary committee for consideration.

v34#63 - UFUQ STATE OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE CLOSURE

In this edition - While the UFUQ state office remains open year round for contacts regarding industrial matters, please be advised that administration staff will be on annual leave from Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

v34#62 SEND IN THE CLOWNS: QFES RINGLEADERS PUSH TO MULTI-CLASSIFY OPERATIONAL ROLES

In this edition - I am aware that under Cr Leach (and signed off by all sorts of people who should know better, or who do know better, and think they’re getting away with it) there is currently an explosion of attempts by certain senior One QFES managers to obtain dual classification of roles that were, are, or ought to be, purely Fire and Rescue professional firefighter classification.

v34# 59 NEW FIRE AND RESCUE MINISTER ANNOUNCED!

In this Edition - I am pleased to report to all members that with the return of the Palaszczuk state government for the next 4 years, state parliament is to resume in late November.

v34#55 QFES ‘VISION’ TO CREATE HYBRID 4TH SERVICE SHUT DOWN

In this edition - I am aware of a secret scheme within One QFES to create a Frankenstein’s monster fourth service, combining and replacing entirely the roles of FRS (Auxiliary Firefighters), RFS and SES, into a new hybrid operational service within QFES.

v34#51 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

In this edition - In accordance with the union’s Rules, notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the United Firefighters Union of Australia, Union of Employees, Queensland will be held at the UFUQ office, 286 Montague Road, West End commencing at 9.30 am on 19th October 2020. All financial members are entitled to attend. Should you wish to attend, please advise the union office so that seating arrangements can be made.

v34#50 September 11 Attacks - A day to remember

In this edition - In 2001, after coordinated terrorist attacks on United States soil, the twin towers of the World Trade centre in lower Manhattan collapsed. As a result of the attack, 343 New York firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice.

Search Website

©2024 www.ufuq.com.au

Site by Union Systems