Stock route manager wins industrial relations fight against state government

A highly paid, senior public servant who says he was forced to live in his car before housing his young family in a property ‘constantly’ targeted by thieves has won a court bid to force the state govt to relocate him - and his role.

The Queensland government is being forced to move a senior public service job from Maryborough to Kingaroy over the Fraser Coast city’s ongoing housing and crime crisis following a successful QIRC appeal by former employee Julian Gregson.

The state government has been forced to move a senior public service job from Maryborough to the South Burnett because of the housing crisis and high crime in Maryborough.

The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission ordered the move following an appeal by Julian Gregson, who was employed as the Team Leader and Senior Land Officer for State Land and Stock Route Management with the Department of Resources.

Mr Gregson’s job, which he started in January 2019, was primarily located at Maryborough.

The published QIRC ruling says Mr Gregson asked to be allowed to do the job from Kingaroy owing to the extraordinary housing and crime issues in Maryborough.

In submissions made during his fight, published in the ruling, Mr Gregson said “from day one” he was unable to find housing “due to the unprecedented low vacancy rates and fast-moving real estate market (in Maryborough)”.

The Queensland government is being forced to move a senior public service job to Kingaroy because of the housing crisis and high crime in Maryborough, following a successful Industrial Relations appeal by former employee Julian Gregson.

“At multiple times I was homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless due to trying to stay in Maryborough just for the role,” he submitted.

He “initially slept in his car in the bush” for the first few weeks” before being “defrauded” by someone offering private rentals, and then renting a “tiny sunroom” for the price of an entire house.

When he did finally find somewhere to live, it was “completely unsafe and inappropriate for someone with sensory issues and a new baby”.

The QIRC was told Mr Gregson had ADHD and Asperger’s syndrome.

The house he rented was surrounded by “non-stop” crime, and was broken into “countless times”, it heard.

“At one stage I was locked down for 12 hours because there was a siege in the neighbouring property,” he said.

His vehicle was “written off” on Christmas Eve when someone crashed into it while his family was asleep, and his young child was often woken by “trucks and hoons” or “fighting and screaming or smashing”.

Julian Gregson said “from day one” he was unable to find housing “due to the unprecedented low vacancy rates and fast-moving real estate market (in Maryborough)”.

“When neighbouring houses and businesses get broken into, the police are so busy that they can’t even attend,” he said.

“Even in the days after I put in my original request … a different vehicle of mine was vandalised from head to toe and people were under my house while my family and I slept,” Mr Gregson said.

Mr Gregson finally moved to Kingaroy in July 2023, saying he had been left with “no choice”.

The department rejected his request to move the position there, citing concerns of fatigue caused by travelling between the two locations, the fact there was no department office at Kingaroy, and the disconnect he would have from his team.

An internal review supported this decision.

Mr Gregson ultimately challenged the decision with the QIRC, saying the department did not act fairly or with empathy.

He further pointed out the job would be unfillable at Maryborough “due to the housing crisis”.

Commissioner Roslyn McLennan agreed with Mr Gregson’s claim, overturning the department’s refusals and ordering the position be permanently moved to Kingaroy.

Ms McLennan found Mr Gregson’s circumstances so severe he was more likely to be more fatigued from lack of sleep due to the ongoing crime problem than a long distance commute.

Commissioner Roslyn McLennan found Julian Gregson’s circumstances so severe he was more likely to be more fatigued from lack of sleep due to the ongoing crime problem around his Maryborough home than a long distance commute.

She said “special consideration” should have been given to his situation.

“In my mind (Mr Gregson’s) decision to relocate was no mere ‘personal choice’ and rather, was a decision made to protect his mental wellbeing and the safety of his infant child,” Ms McLennan found.

She ordered his substantive position be “permanently” moved to Kingaroy to take effect from the time Mr Gregson wishes to return to it.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Gregson said the decision “vindicated” him.

The fight had often left him feeling like he was being “gaslighted” by the department,, sucked the life out of a 20 year career in the public service.

He has since left the public service and started his own independent real estate agency at Hervey Bay.

The entire fight had impacted greatly on his mental health and his personal relationships.

“It’s good to be reassured,” Mr Gregson said

A Department of Resources spokesman said the organisation “notes the decision by the QIRC”

“The department is committed to agile and flexible work, and the principles that support successful implementation of flexible work approaches,” he said.