CODE 2, VOL 34, NO 46 : 07 september 2020

QLD GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES THE PSBA EXPERIMENT IS ENDING

On Monday 7 September 2020 the Treasurer Mr Dick provided a government economic update.  In that update it was announced that all functions of Public Service Business Agency (PSBA) are being ‘folded back’ into One QFES and the QPS, and that the PSBA will be no more.

Ever since the PSBA was mistakenly established, your union has been pushing to restore services to firefighters, fire trucks and stations, and for saving money by getting rid of the PSBA (as I reported to you in Code 2 v34#43 of 31 August 2020), and it is pleasing to see that in these tough economic times, QFRS and the state government have finally listened.

This is an important step forward in correcting the multiple problems in One QFES, as vital services such as fleet and maintenance and much more come back to where they always belonged.

Fire and Emergency Service Minister Mr Crawford has also said, regarding the PSBA being folded back into the two agencies, that the changes will ensure better use of government resources to support you and your colleagues.

Commissioner Leach has sent an email to all PSBA employees in his role as Chair of the PSBA Board, in which he reports that the disestablishment of the PSBA will see the transition of existing functions and people into QFES (and QPS).  He says the process will conclude on 30 June 2021 and that the disestablishment is to increase efficiencies and that the process is expected to be relatively straightforward.

The mashing together of Fire and Rescue with all the other tacked on parts remains a problem.  Focussing on ensuring you and your trucks and stations (and fire communication centres) are fully crewed and funded and able to operate as required must be at the forefront of every decision from now on.  Anything not entirely dedicated to these simple outcomes is misguided, unnecessary and financially wasteful.  There is much more work for your union to do on these matters.

I will keep you updated as the PSBA functions are returned to QFRS, where they always should have been.

John Oliver - General Secretary