Senior MFS officer paid close to $500,000 to stay home during inquiry

A senior firefighter has been paid by taxpayers to stay home for more than two years. See the huge sum he’s collected as he finally prepares to face a disciplinary hearing.

A high-ranking firefighter who taxpayers have now paid close to $500,000 to stay at home for almost two and a half years will finally face a disciplinary hearing next month.

After an astonishing delay, assistant chief officer Roy Thompson will appear before the Metropolitan Fire Services Disciplinary Committee to face three minor, non-criminal charges – none of which are likely to result in any significant sanction even if he is found guilty.

The delay – and those involving other firefighters under investigation – has been condemned by the United Firefighters Union, which has called for reform to streamline the disciplinary system to prevent unnecessary mental stress to members facing such delays.

Besides the money paid to Mr Thompson since he was suspended in March, 2021 – $198,000 a year in cash and vehicle allowances – the MFS has also spent tens of thousands of dollars on engaging two private investigators who conducted separate inquiries into the incident following his suspension.

Roy Thompson, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Metropolitan Operations, MFS

United Firefighters Union secretary Max Adlam. Image/Russell Millard

Additional costs were incurred by another agency that also examined it, but subsequently found there was no criminal conduct.

Mr Thompson was suspended after an incident in which he was recorded laughing about not buying new fire appliances because it would undermine a UFU industrial campaign over resources.

The internal charges he is facing do not stem from that conversation, but relate to allegations of a minor budget overspend and the delayed return of MFS-owned equipment following his suspension.

Early last year the MFS was slapped with a series of sanctions by SafeWork SA in connection with lengthy delays in both resolving complaints and managing them.

At the time UFU secretary Max Adlam called for reform of the disciplinary process to prevent psychological harm to members.

“ … these investigations should be completed in a matter of weeks and yet people are left hanging out there more than a year for resolution, often without any communication,’’ she said.

Prior to the state election in March 2022, then Police and Emergency Services Minister Vincent Tarzia pledged to overhaul the MFS disciplinary process if the Liberals were re-elected after describing the delays in Mr Thompson’s case as “unacceptable and exasperating …”.

A Labor government spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment on the case because “this matter is subject to formal procedures.’’

“The government is advised by the MFS that additional human resources teams have been allocated to ensure this process is streamlined and completed efficiently,” the spokesman said.

A spokesman for MFS chief officer Michael Morgan, whose one-year contract extension runs out at the end of the year, said the MFS had taken action to improve its responses since the notices were served by SafeWork SA.

Former Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard behind Chief Officer Michael Morgan. 8 December 2018. (AAP Image/Dean Martin)

“Additional staff have been employed in the MFS corporate service area within the employee relations and human resources teams, providing an emphasis on quick and accurate advice to managers to assist them in this area,’’ the spokesman said.

Under the Fire and Emergency Services Act, the disciplinary committee is comprised of a senior lawyer appointed by the minister, a nominee of the chief officer, a nominee of the UFU and a rank-and-file firefighter.

If it finds an individual guilty of an offence or breach, sanctions can include a reprimand, suspension, reduction in rank for a determined period or sacking if the offence is serious.

However, MFS sources said the breaches Mr Thompson is facing are regarded as “minor or administrative’’ and if proven are likely to attract only a minor penalty.