AUXILIARY UPDATE : 11 October 2023

INCREASED SUPERANNUATION FOR AUXILIARY FIREFIGHTERS!

I am pleased to report that in June 2023 the Queensland Treasurer, the Hon Mr Cameron Dick, wrote to your union confirming an increase in accumulated benefit superannuation for all members employed under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990, due to the forced retirement age. Of course, this includes Auxiliary Firefighters.

QFES has now confirmed the QSS coding and other administrative matters have been completed and you will soon start to see an increase in your superannuation.

This is a historic increase in superannuation for Auxiliary Firefighters. Your accumulated benefit superannuation amount will increase from 12.75% to 14.25% to account for the forced retirement age.

INCREASE BACKDATED TO 1 JULY 2022
The increase in your superannuation will be backdated to 1 July 2022.

I want to thank the Treasurer on behalf of all members for this decision and the additional payments in recognition of your service to Queenslanders and your forced retirement age.

INCREASED PAYMENTS COMMENCE IN NOVEMBER
You will see a few things happening in your pay and your payslips from November 2023.

First, the backpay of the superannuation increase will arrive in your superannuation accounts and second your payslip will show that backpay.

Second, the increased monthly amount will also show on your payslips from November and will start going into your superannuation account from then.

YOUR QLD UNION CONTINUES TO WORK FOR YOU
I have reported in previous Auxiliary Updates that your union is working to obtain a world’s best practice list of deemed diseases that qualify for presumptive coverage in the workers’ compensation system, increasing the number of diseases covered from 12 to 22.

And I want to remind you that despite what some other organisations are saying, only your Queensland union (the UFUQ) is involved in obtaining that increased legal coverage for you.

A move away from the poorly conceived, poorly organised, and very poorly managed QFES to the new Queensland Fire Department continues, returning the focus of all within the department back onto operational matters.

Your award has been in place since 1 January 2016. Your Auxiliary Firefighter representatives (Brendan Gigante, Ben Phipps and Alex Darling) have commenced preliminary discussions with your union about a plan to improve terms and conditions for you all. If you have input to those preliminary discussions, you can find their contact details on the UFUQ webpage here.

And of course, this increase to your superannuation. QFES HR is also putting out some details on the superannuation changes in an email to you all in the near future.

John Oliver - General Secretary