Senior QFES staff stood down as investigation into bully allegations deepens

Staff have alleged a toxic culture of bullying and exclusion has taken hold in one of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service’s largest offices.

A year-long investigation into the alleged bullying within the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ South West Region office at Charlton has led to two senior staff members* being stood down, but rank-and-file staff say their suspensions are too little and much too late.

The staff said they felt let down by the Queensland Government’s public service complaints process, which they allege had routinely failed to take their concerns seriously.

They alleged they have been making complaints about one senior staff member for more than 10 years but no action was taken until 2023.

They further alleged the two suspended senior staff members, who were based at the Charlton QFES office in Toowoomba, fostered a toxic culture of bullying, harassment and exclusion.

It is alleged this culture led to several people taking extended sick leave, with at least five people resigning from their positions at the office in the past year.

News Corp understands the complaints levelled against the two senior QFES staff resulted in the department assigning an independent investigator who interviewed 78 staff from the QFES South West Region, which extends from Toowoomba to the Northern Territory border.

That investigation has led to the two senior staff members being stood down for three months, as of March 5.

News Corp spoke with several current and former staff who paint a grim picture of the office, with one describing it as working in a kindergarten.

“For many years staff were trying to go through the Queensland Government’s human resources complaints process and through the conduct (senior staff member) at Charlton,” one staff member said

“They were taking all the right steps to handle it internally but nothing happened, not even any conversations with the affected staff.

“If something was happening then it was behind closed doors and not coming back to affected staff.”

The QFES facility at Charlton is a hub for emergency services activity across much of southern Queensland and is one of the largest QFES stations in Queensland. It houses personnel from Queensland Fire and Rescue, the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service.

The staff said they felt they needed more support through the Queensland Government’s internal human resources complaints process.

“It came to a head a few years ago when staff were visibly upset and walking out of meetings just distraught,” one staff member said.

“They were off on Work Cover and could not come into that space because of how it was affecting them.”

Another staff member said they started making official complaints about one of the suspended senior staff members more than ten years ago, but alleged there was never any follow-up.

“The first complaint was after a year of bullying and harassment,” they said.

“It was an awful place to work.”

The staff member alleged the stood-down senior staff set unrealistic workloads and then criticised and harassed staff if deadlines were not met.

“The Southwest Region is in a bad way, we have haemorrhaged trainers, and it is hard for us to put people on the ground,” they said.

The investigation sits alongside a larger probe initiated by Premier Steven Miles after members of the Rural Fire Service signed an open letter outlining an alleged culture of bullying, harassment, and exclusion in January.

When asked about the bullying, a QFES spokesman declined to go into detail as the matter was under investigation.

“QFES takes the conduct of its employees seriously and expects the highest standard of professional and ethical behaviour. It has zero tolerance of any behaviour that does not uphold an inclusive and respectful environment for its staff and volunteers,” he said.

“QFES has a robust complaints management system and all complaints, investigations and discipline matters are managed in accordance with the Public Sector Commission Directives.”

A spokesman for the Minister for Fire Nikki Boyd MP was equally tight-lipped.

“The minister has very high expectations that matters are dealt with thoroughly and appropriately,” he said.

“Everyone has a right to work in a safe environment, including volunteers.

“It would not be appropriate for the minister to comment on individual matters that are currently being investigated.”

If you have any tips about toxic work cultures within the emergency services or other large organisations, contact reporter Michael Nolan [e-mail]

Originally published as Senior QFES staff stood down as investigation into bully allegations deepens