Elizabeth Henson: Country Fire Service volunteers speaking out should be listened to, not gagged

Our Country Fire Service volunteers risk life and limb to keep us safe. And, as Elizabeth Henson argues, they should be listened to and not gagged from speaking out.

The ol’ ‘bringing an organisation into disrepute’ clause.

It’s a deliberately vague workplace rule that can be interpreted and applied in many different ways to suit a variety of purposes – often to get rid of troublesome staff.

There are numerous iterations of this regulation but the general gist of it, in part, means you’re not allowed to do anything that reflects poorly on your workplace, or publicly talk or write smack about your organisation; otherwise you can be penalised.

Despite its wide-ranging scope, one reason for which it should never be used is to shut down volunteers who dare to speak out about their concerns.

This is what CFS volunteers claim the powers-that-be are doing.

Over the past fortnight, both The Advertiser and Sunday Mail have reported claims that “hundreds” of CFS members have been suspended and gagged for raising concerns about equipment shortfalls and a lack of support within the organisation.

Country Fire Service volunteer firefighters have hit out over their treatment.

Paid CFS staff also came forward just a few days ago to say they too had been subjected to the same treatment.

They say the suspensions, which include gag orders, are handed out under a rule which stipulates any member who, “in the performance of official duties or otherwise behaves in a manner that reflects or is likely to reflect adversely on (the CFS) is liable to disciplinary action”.

The CFS, and Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs, have both denied members are being silenced for voicing their worries.

The Minister later revealed an investigation was underway into “disciplinary regulations” within the emergency services sector.

One volunteer said their brigade had “a real issue with our equipment” however pleas to the CFS to fix the problem, as well an appeal to a local MP, fell on deaf ears.

“When we decided enough was enough, I went to the media, and then I wasn’t even allowed to speak to my fellow volunteers, let alone speak about the CFS to anyone else,” the member said.

Another volunteer said members had been quitting in droves because the fire service was “gagging people left and right,” and they warned “someone is going to get hurt this fire season” due to the loss of experience within the ranks.

“We’ve lost too many good staff that raised concerns with their chain of command and now we have staff now with no fire experience and they are making operational decisions,” they said.

It is absolutely outrageous if our volunteer firefighters are being punished, and driven out of the CFS, for speaking up about issues within the organisation.

We need CFS volunteers. These brave and selfless men and women often put their lives on the line for us – and they do it for free.

They save people and properties from fires, turn up to horrific car crashes to assist, sandbag during floods; they drop everything at all hours of the day and night to help others.

These volunteers deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect.

And as the people on the frontline, they’re best-placed to provide feedback on many issues that arise.

Sure, sometimes it might not be pleasant hearing feedback, but perhaps the focus should be on addressing or allaying concerns rather than simply trying to silence members.

It’s the CFS – not Fight Club.