Minns government scrambles to fill rescue service gaps amid firefighters’ wage standoff

Leaked documents reveal the Minns government is scrambling to deal with gaps in emergency rescue services across the state, as NSW firefighters threaten to stop providing support.

Firefighters protest at NSW Parliament as they are still waiting for a new pay deal with the government. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The Minns government is scrambling to deal with gaps in emergency rescue services across the state, with NSW firefighters threatening to stop providing rescue support as wage negotiations sour, leaked documents reveal.

The firefighters’ union argues the provision of rescue support to other agencies such as the SES and RFS has not been effectively costed by the Minns government, is outside their core paid functions and should be reflected in a new wage deal.

As a result the Fire Brigade Employees Union has threatened to cease their support of certain rescue agencies in potential industrial action, leaving the government scrambling to plug gaps.

In a memorandum from the NSW State Rescue Board chair Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell sent on Wednesday and seen by The Daily Telegraph, local rescue committee chairs were warned to urgently prepare rescue response alternatives if FRNSW units are unable to respond.

The Minns government has been left scrambling to plug emergency rescue gaps in the face of industrial action. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“The board has been advised that potential industrial action could disrupt supplementary support provided by FRNSW,” the memorandum said.

“Have ready alternative options for response arrangements if FRNSW is not available to respond in support of other accredited rescue units.”

Due to a reduction in volunteers, services such as the SES and Rural Fire Service has been increasingly relying on the support of Fire and Rescue NSW to plug gaps in rescue operations during floods, natural disasters other than fires and roadside assistance, though no formal agreement between the agencies is in place.

Additionally FRNSW has been increasingly called upon to assist ambulance services, with the number of calls to assist paramedics increasing by more than 1300 per cent in the last decade. FRNSW attended nearly 15,000 ambulance assist call-outs in the last financial year, up from more than 1000 in 2013.

Fire Brigade Employees Union secretary, Leighton Drury said he was alarmed by the lack of reporting framework. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

A NSW government review of emergency volunteering services in response to catastrophic flooding events released last week found volunteer agencies are under increased strain to respond to emergencies due partly to a drop in recruitment.

The review found the number of callouts tasked to volunteer emergency service organisations had increased by more than 123 per cent over 10 years to 2022. Yet over the same period the number of volunteering workforce grew by less than 1 per cent.

The memorandum also requested local rescue committees “commence standardised quarterly reporting … to improve oversight of rescue capability and availability statewide”.

Fire Brigade Employees Union secretary, Leighton Drury said he was alarmed there was no existing framework for volunteer agencies to report on their ability to respond to rescue emergencies.

He said when volunteer services have units offline it’s FRNSW that then often respond to non-fire related rescue call-outs.

“We’re providing an extra service but the government is saying it’s not worth anything,” he said.

“We won’t be taking these sorts of actions lightly at all because we understand that in the end we’re there to look after the community.

“But our firefighters have got to keep roofs over their heads.”

A FRNSW spokesperson said while wage negotiations were ongoing, all scenarios were being prepared for.

“FRNSW will work with Local Rescue Committees and does not envisage any service gaps,” the spokesperson said.

A NSW government spokesperson said they anticipated any potential disruption would be adequately managed.

“The Board is also exploring contingencies to ensure what other support might be needed to be put in place if FRNSW were unavailable for secondary duties.”

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