Brisbane Coast Guard volunteers quit after alleged “toxic culture”
One of Queensland’s biggest Coast Guard services is in turmoil after the reported departures of eight key volunteers amid claims of an allegedly “toxic culture’’. But management has rejected the claims.
Southeast
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One of Queensland’s biggest Coast Guard services is in turmoil after the reported departures of eight key volunteers amid claims of an allegedly “toxic culture’’.
It was believed up to 20 volunteers have either resigned, were suspended or decided not to renew their membership with the Brisbane Coast Guard in recent months after a dispute with some of the organisation’s current leadership.
The claims have been rejected by a PR representative of the Coast Guard.
According to current and former members, who wished to remain anonymous, the issue stemmed from the purchase of three old engines, used by the organisation, by one of its members.
The coast guard reportedly claimed due process was not followed in the matter.
After several meetings and hearings the member, a former Flotilla commander, was dismissed after almost 30 years at the organisation.
The decision angered many members who claimed it was the coast guard which had not followed procedure, which included not handing over findings from their investigations to give him a chance to respond to before he was sacked.
According to current and former members, some others who voiced their concerns to leadership were suspended while others resigned after clashes with leadership.
A Coast Guard source claimed others who remained were dealing with a “toxic culture”.
“There’s been growing discontent over that time — a steady stream of complaints, disputes, arguments, claims of favouritism, investigations and generally crappy behaviour,” a current member said.
“Two people in senior leadership roles have openly said that they aim to ‘clean out’ other members and executives not aligned to them.
“It’s hard for people to speak out, as anyone who does gets targeted and threatened with disciplinary action for breaching code of conduct.
“At the moment there is widespread anger in the Flotilla over extreme authoritarianism, lack of fairness, favouritism, fear of being the next one targeted and forced out for some reason or another, suspicion of motives, people having their roles stripped from them for no reason, or given a public berating over small issues that elsewhere would be easily fixable.”
A former member said there seemed to be a push to get rid of older or more experienced members.
“We’ve got members here who know they’re too old to serve on the boats any more, but they do a great job keeping the place going and they feel they're being pushed out the door by these people,” they said.
“It’s a fair old kick in the guts.
“Most importantly I see it as a mental health issue for a lot of guys.
“A lot of them have been coming down for five, 10, 20 or even 30 years.”
Another former member claimed the current leadership had a “lack of corporate awareness in relation to professionalism and procedures”.
Two of the anonymous former and current members said the departures of key members of the Coast Guard left the service short on experience which they fear could cost someone their lives on the water.
“They’re losing many people with a lot of boating experience,’’ a former member said.
“A lot of these people are commercially qualified.
“They’re losing people with up to 30 years of experience and when you get that bad weather and bad jobs, they’re the people you need to rely on.
“Without the experience there to train and teach the new guys, you’re just sending people out who are underprepared to do a dangerous job.
National PR captain for the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, Deanne Semmens, rejected claims the organisation hadn’t followed processes in relation to the dispute over the purchase of old equipment.
“We have had one member resign relating to this. This is their prerogative and we respect their decision, we are all volunteers.
“Our yearly membership renewal process was also happening at this time and some members decided not to renew their memberships this financial year but this is normal as life circumstances change.
“We are also embarking on a substantial change to the association with the move to a single service marine rescue entity, which some members have chosen not to be a part of.
“As the member involved was a flotilla executive, the flotilla executive were stood down temporarily to follow our governance and processes under the AVCGA Constitution and By-laws.”
The Coast Guard also rejected claims members were suspended after complaining to leadership and responded to other claims of a “toxic” culture within the organisation.
“It’s understandable that there is some angst to the dis-enrolment of a long time member, however the majority of members understand the reason that the decision was made and support the decision,” Ms Semmens said.
Ms Semmens also said the Coast Guard remained fully operational despite any concerns the organisation could fulfil its duties after the reported departures of key volunteers.
“With 90 members, the volunteers of Coast Guard Brisbane have been protecting the local water ways since 1973 and as such the flotilla maintains full operational capability 24/7 and will always continue to serve the recreational boating community of South East Queensland with skill, professionalism and enthusiasm,” she said.
“Our volunteers continue to focus on safe boating and the protection of life at sea.”
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