Tasmanian fire chief Dermot Barry quits as concerns mount over restructure
The state’s fire chief has quit unexpectedly as unions raise concerns about a government restructure of emergency services.
Tasmania
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The state’s fire chief has quit suddenly as unions raise concerns about an “unworkable” government restructure of emergency services.
Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Dermot Barry’s immediate resignation after 37 years in emergency services was announced by Secretary of the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management Donna Adams.
Jeremy Smith has been designated as acting chief officer.
“I thank Dermot for his service in a role that is crucial to keeping the Tasmanian community safe,” Commissioner Adams said.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Felix Ellis said Mr Barry would be missed.
“I thank Mr Barry for his contributions to keeping Tasmanians safe and wish him all the best,” he said.
The departing fire chief sent a farerwell email to to staff on Friday.
“It is with a tinge of sadness that I advise today is my last day as the Chief Officer of the TFS,” he wrote.
“I will now commence a period of leave and officially finish in early July.
“I have been here almost two years and whilst I leave with many things I had hoped to accomplish still in train, I do reflect positively on the good things we have achieved together.”
The United Firefighters Union, the Retained Volunteers Association and the Volunteer Fire Brigades Association wrote to Police and Emergency Services Minister Felix Ellis on Wednesday, expressing their concerns about government reforms.
They say the plan “would undermine the independence of the state’s fire service by placing it under the direction of the Police Commissioner, who is the Department secretary”.
“You advised that you intend to stick by the government commitments as announced; however, as per the State Service Act, there needed to be a Departmental Secretary as head of the agency, and this could be from either TFES Commissioner or Police Commissioner in the future.
“We stand by our view that this will be an unworkable model.”
Mr Ellis announced “a new, strong chain of command” in January under which the Chief Officer of TFS would be become the Commissioner of Fire and Emergency Services.
“The Commissioner will report directly to the Minister of the day and will oversee the new Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service. The Director SES will remain in the TFES’ key leadership group,” he said.
“The Commissioner will be in charge and will have clear responsibilities and accountability.”
The state’s ambulance Service chief Joe Acker quit in March.
Labor’s shadow minister Michelle O’Byrne said Mr Barry’s departure was a big blow to the fire service.
“Mr Barry is highly respected throughout the Fire Service and community,” she said.
“It’s extremely disappointing that he’s resigned and it’s understood that Mr Barry is not happy with the government and Minister Felix Ellis’ intention of making the fire service part of one big department.
“The result of that will be that the fire service will report to the Head of Police, Fire and Emergency Management which is the Police Commissioner.
“Having the fire service as a stand-alone statutory body was a commitment made by former Premier Peter Gutwein but the Rockliff government has backflipped on that.”
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