Last Friday’s ministerial media release - https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99521 announced -
An independent review into Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ (QFES) complaints management system is planned to commence soon
- Last year, QFES’ executive leadership team proactively engaged an external organisation to undertake the review.
- The review will assist to inform future changes to systems and policies as work continues to establish the Queensland Fire Department (QFD)
On Monday the RFBAQ wrote to the QFES Office of the Commissioner asking who will be running it, what are the terms of reference, at the completion of the review who will it be handed to and will it be made available?
The response from the QFES Office of the Commissioner was - We are looking into your request and will provide a response soon.
It would be very hard to endorse a review into the QFES that was commissioned by the QFES, with the terms of reference written by the QFES, the independent reviewer chosen by the QFES and then the report being delivered to the QFES.
In our open letter to the Premier https://www.rfbaq.org/announcements/open-letter-to-hon-steven-miles-mp-premier we raised concerns regarding –
The QFES paid staff contacted me as they have no faith or trust in the QFES or Fire and Rescue Service to fairly investigate the claims as they believe that the discrimination is systemic.
Individuals report being collectively targeted and being exposed to prolonged behaviours that leads to impacts on personal and professional reputations on executives, staff and volunteers across services and that this has instilled fear, anxiety, defeatism and poor morale and psychological health.
These ongoing toxic behaviours are also in the form of deliberate failure to abide by government policies and community standards and also of failure to declare conflicts of interest.
As this review announced last Friday afternoon by The Honourable Nikki Boyd as yet has had no terms of reference released or any other information, there is still the opportunity for the Queensland Government to initiate an immediate and independent investigation completely separate from the QFES.
