CODE 2, VOL 37, NO 19 : 11 october 2023

INCREASED SUPERANNUATION PAYMENTS:
COMMENCEMENT DATE CONFIRMED

You will recall I reported to you all that in June 2023 the Queensland Treasurer, the Hon Mr Cameron Dick, wrote to your union confirming an increase in accumulated benefit superannuation for all members employed under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 due to the forced retirement age (see the Code 2 here).

INCREASE BACKDATED TO 1 JULY 2022
First, I wanted to update you on some good news. Conversations between your union and the state government, and the Treasurer, have resulted in payments made to QFES to backdate the increase in accumulated benefit superannuation to 1 July 2022.

I want to thank the Treasurer on behalf of all members for this decision and the additional payments in recognition of your service to Queenslanders and your forced retirement age.

INCREASED PAYMENTS COMMENCE IN OCTOBER
You will see a few things happening in your pay and your payslips towards the end of October 2023.

First, the backpay of the superannuation increase will arrive in your superannuation accounts and second your payslip will show that backpay.

Second, the increased fortnightly amount will also show on your payslips from late October and will start going into your superannuation account from then.

YOUR QLD UNION CONTINUES TO WORK FOR YOU
It’s been a big year for you and your colleagues.

CA22 commenced with –
• an 11% compounding wage rise, and
• COLA payments (3% paid already this year), and
• movement to crew alpha appliances without considering sick leave and a new state-wide consistent station rostering system removing most of the discretion from managers to move people at whim, and
• guaranteed 17.5% operational adjustment paid each year before Christmas,
• and much more.

Your union continues to work to obtain a world’s best practice list of deemed diseases that qualify for presumptive coverage in the workers’ compensation system, increasing the number of diseases covered from 12 to 22. And I want to remind you that despite what some other organisations are saying, only your Queensland union is involved in obtaining that increased legal coverage for you.

A significant increase in the total number of full-time qualified firefighters is underway, with a total increase of over 700 between 2016 and 2026. And, for fire communications, implementation of self-managed time off console on nightshift and supervisors on every shift in every centre by June 2025 are both underway.

A move away from the poorly conceived, poorly organised, and very poorly managed QFES to the new Queensland Fire Department continues, returning the focus of all within the department back onto operational matters.

And of course, this increase to your superannuation. QFES HR is also putting out some details on the superannuation changes in an email to you all in the near future.

John Oliver - General Secretary