Mr Shoebridge went a step further, saying the probe should be broadened to include all emergency services.

‘‘There continues to be serious concerns about bullying within the controlling management structures in each of those organisations and they remain unaddressed,’’ Mr Shoebridge said.

‘‘Each of these organisations does extraordinary work and the overwhelming majority of the workforce are hard working, diligent and extraordinarily dependable public servants, but it’s the culture in each organisation and lack of avenues to address bullying complaints that needs to be the focus.’’ Mr Shoebridge commended Ms Watson for raising the issues, which ‘‘should really be beyond any one political party’’.

He said a cross-parliamentary committee was the ‘‘obvious first step’’ in addressing the issues.

Ms Watson used her private member’s statement in the Legislative Assembly this week to call for the NSW government to establish an inquiry after a series of articles in the Mercury revealed allegations of misconduct, mismanagement, sexual harassment, intimidation and bullying within the state fire service.

She has since written to Emergency Services Minister David Elliott urging him to convene a parliamentary inquiry. ‘‘It is time that former and serving firefighters are given the opportunity to present their grievances in an inquiry where they are confident of due process,’’ she told the minister.

Ms Watson said she would support Mr Shoebridge’s call to broaden the scope of an inquiry to all emergency services. Since her statement to Parliament, she has been alerted to similar situations within the Rural Fire Service.

Mr Shoebridge said problems within the emergency services largely fell at the feet of the workplace regulator, WorkCover NSW. ‘‘A significant part of the responsibility for these problems remaining unresolved lies with WorkCover...which appears either incapable or disinterested in addressing bullying in workplaces,’’ Mr Shoebridge said.

‘‘I moved for a parliamentary inquiry into WorkCover, it was the subject itself of ongoing concerns,’’ he said. ‘‘Some have been addressed but there remains a very large question mark over its capacity to address bullying in workplaces across the state.’’

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has confirmed a senior staff member has been suspended after serious allegations of misconduct.

The employee was stood down in April and was on full pay while the investigation continued, a spokeswoman said.

FRNSW Commissioner Greg Mullins confirmed in April that ‘‘while the matters have yet to be fully investigated, due to their nature, I determined that suspension was appropriate and necessary’’.

‘‘I am aware that the senior staff member has strongly denied the allegations.’’ The nature and detail of the allegations could not be commented on,  as the investigation’s integrity and the privacy of those concerned must be protected, he said. FRNSW ‘‘takes these matters very seriously and has zero tolerance for any form of misconduct or inappropriate behaviour in the workplace’’.

‘‘I have stated publicly on a number of occasions that I will apply the same standards without fear or favour at every level of the organisation.”