Shellharbour MP Anna Watson is calling for police to investigate claims Fire and Rescue NSW withheld crucial information from the corruption watchdog, the Ombudsman and NSW Parliament regarding allegations of corruption and misconduct.
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A former Illawarra firefighter has made explosive allegations that indictable offences have been committed in the handling of his complaints over 10 years and he is demanding senior police examine his fresh evidence.
He has turned to his local member - who has been provided with documentary evidence to back his claims - to support his call for an investigation.
"If there has been criminal activity that's gone on it needs to be investigated, it needs to be looked into and if something is found, then charges need to be laid," a spokesman for Ms Watson told the Mercury.
"These are very serious allegations. Obviously there is a cultural problem in the fire service which we need to get to the bottom of," the spokesman said.
"We are going to fight for a select committee in the upper house to investigate the entire service, to hold a parliamentary inquiry where all these firefighters who have raised issues can have their day in court, be heard and everyone can give their evidence under oath," he said.
Ms Watson said she would raise the issue when Parliament resumed this week. She has already written to the Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott with regard to the firefighter's complaints and other Fire and Rescue NSW issues raised by the Illawarra Mercury.
"I am sure you will agree that the allegations raised publicly are very serious and warrant independent investigation," she wrote on April 28.