CFS chief officer Greg Nettleton sacked — as fire danger season extended

Country Fire Service chief officer Greg Nettleton has been sacked as the CFS goes in a “new direction” — the news revealed in Parliament as he held a media conference to announce the fire ban season would be extended into May.

Two of SA’s most senior emergency services chiefs will step down in July, with one sacked and another quitting.

The news of Country Fire Service chief officer Greg Nettleton’s sacking was revealed in Parliament at the same time as he held a media conference on Thursday to announce the fire ban season would be extended into May.

The Advertiser can also reveal the head of the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission resigned last week.

Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard told Parliament on Thursday that Mr Nettleton’s contract will not be renewed beyond its end date in July.

Mr Wingard said it was part of taking the CFS in a “new direction”.

“The contract for the Chief Officer of the CFS expired and I am not renewing that contract,” he said.

Labor seized on the revelation in Parliament, calling it an “utter shambles” as leader Peter Malinauskas asked the minister to explain why the contract wasn’t extended.

“As the minister in charge, it was a decision that I took,” Mr Wingard said.

Mr Wingard was also asked if he was “seeking to take the CFS in a new direction under new leadership?”

CFS Chief Officer Greg Nettleton

Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard

“One would surmise that if the contract of the previous chief officer hasn’t been renewed and we are going to get a new chief officer, there will be a new direction, yes,” he told Parliament.

When queried over what the new direction would be, Mr Wingard answered: “You will have to wait and see”.

Mr Nettleton is not the only emergency services boss to leave his post.

SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission and Chair of the SAFECOM Board Malcolm Jackman resigned last week.

Mr Jackman joined SAFECOM in mid-2015 and will leave the position in early July.

He had been carrying out the position part-time since his request to work three days a week was granted by the Government in September last year.

The approval was on the proviso that the arrangement would be reviewed after six months.

The move also triggered a major, wide-ranging review of SAFECOM.

Opposition emergency services spokesman Lee Odenwalder described Mr Nettleton’s sacking as “a complete and utter shambles”.

“What’s worse, under questioning in Parliament, Corey Wingard could not explain why he sacked the CFS chief,” he said.

“He then suggested the CFS would be going in a “new direction” but couldn’t explain what the new direction is.”

The decision by Mr Wingard was revealed as Mr Nettleton held a media conference to announce the fire ban season would be extended across much of the state.

Mr Nettleton said he found out about the decision on Tuesday afternoon, and that it wasn’t a shock to him.

“No not really, I’ve seen a lot of things being in emergency services … nothing shocks me,” he said.

He also said he wasn’t “fussed” by the decision.

“I look on the bright side of things, I’ll be able to plan a Christmas holiday,” he said.

“My original contract was due to expire on the 23rd of January this year but that was extended to July to get through the fire season.

“I think I have done a good job, I have enjoyed it … I think we have done a good job as a collective team given the number of big fires that took place in my tenure.

“It will come to some people as a surprise but I’m not too fussed by it ... I think I have done enough summers.”

The fire ban season was extended by two weeks because of dry and warm conditions.

Mr Nettleton warned bushfire risk wouldn’t reduced across SA until the state had received substantial rainfall in most areas.

“We would require rainfall of more than 180mm, combined with milder autumn conditions, before we are likely to see a reduction in risk in many areas,” Mr Nettleton said.

The Bureau of Meteorology says there is was below-average rainfall in store for the next three months.

The announcement about Mr Nettleton’s contract was made on the same day a parliamentary inquiry investigating a controversial harvesting ban bill raised concerns about a “possible disconnect” between CFS administration and regional communities.

“The Committee was concerned to hear witnesses express a lack of confidence in the CFS administration which suggested that decisions made, or views held, at senior levels of the CFS did not take into account the knowledge and experience of local communities, including CFS volunteers and primary producers,” it read.

“The committee is concerned by suggestions that the CFS may not have the full support and confidence of communities across South Australia.”

It has recommended scrapping plans to give senior CFS volunteers the authority to stop farming activities if they believe it could spark a fire.