Illawarra MP Anna Watson has called for a parliamentary inquiry into serious allegations of workplace sexism, bullying, harassment and mismanagement within Fire and Rescue NSW, with the backing of her political foe Gareth Ward.
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Ms Watson said the serious nature of the allegations warranted an independent inquiry after many former and current firefighters indicated that Fire and Rescue NSW had buried their complaints.
"The claims made by these former and serving firefighters have been treated like a pinball, bounced from one appeal agency to another, and then another, and then another," she said.
"The way the bureaucracy deals with such complaints is designed to wilt the spirit of [even] the most determined of individuals to withstand the frustration of not having their substantive claims addressed.
"In the meantime, the victimisation, bullying, intimidation, sexual harassment, discrimination and mismanagement simply continue, hidden from view."
Ms Watson said the behaviour was unacceptable and such a "culture only flourishes in an organisation which so heavily relies on hierarchy and rigid structures, such as Fire and Rescue NSW".
The Shellharbour MP made the call in State Parliament on Tuesday during a private member's statement in response to a series of articles published in the Illawarra Mercury.
"The articles make very disturbing reading," Ms Watson said.
"As members of Parliament we rightly praise the work of emergency service personnel. They do a tremendous job keeping our community safe. We therefore have a clear responsibility to ensure that our emergency service personnel are able to undertake their essential tasks in a safe working environment."
Ms Watson and other state MPs have previously made representations on behalf of firefighters to then Emergency Services Minister Stuart Ayres - who referred the complaints to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
"I have been advised by the current Minister for Emergency Services that ICAC does have a referral from the former minister," Ms Watson said.
"But I don't believe the ICAC will make any inroads in investigating these claims further.
"I consider it is time that all of these allegations are tested in a transparent public inquiry. Let the cards fall where they may.
"I believe it is time that the Parliament conducted a parliamentary inquiry into Fire and Rescue NSW. I call on the minister to establish such a parliamentary inquiry in the other place as soon as possible."
Parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast, Gareth Ward, said "anyone who engages in bullying or harassment in any government workplace should be fully dealt with".
He said ICAC, the body empowered to investigate such issues, should "seek to discharge their responsibilities in full".
"But I make it very clear to any public servant in any part of the state that seeks to bully or harass or intimidate anyone in any regard, you will be investigated and the full extent of the law will certainly be thrust upon you should you be found to have engaged in such behaviour."
Mr Ward said he looked forward to seeing the outcome of investigations.
May 29, 2015
A former Illawarra senior firefighter who claims he was bullied and victimised for blowing the whistle 10 years ago is accusing Fire and Rescue NSW of lying and withholding crucial information relating to his case. He has called on the NSW government to examine fresh evidence which he alleges shows the fire service misled numerous agencies, including NSW Parliament, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and NSW Workers Compensation Commission.
March 21, 2015
A Fire and Rescue NSW firefighter claims speaking up about the theft of thousands of dollars’ worth of firefighting equipment, the maladministration of public money and assets, and unsafe work practices, has cost him his job and his health.
March 14, 2015
Firefighters from the Illawarra and across NSW are calling for an independent investigation into allegations of mismanagement, workplace bullying, harassment and sexual discrimination.
They claim their concerns are being ignored by NSW Fire and Rescue and in some cases they have been targeted for speaking out, and they have filed statutory declarations with the ICAC.
March 14, 2015
A female firefighter claims she was forced to undress in public view, belittled by her superiors and became the butt of practical jokes for speaking up against unprofessional and unsafe work practices within NSW Fire and Rescue.
The woman’s partner said her treatment had left her traumatised and unable to return to work and that the response received to the complaints of bullying, harassment, sexual discrimination and workplace violence had been manifestly inadequate.
