Forcing rural fire volunteers to patrol Annastacia Palaszczuk’s border blockade is yet another case of Labor mismanaging the service, LNP Shadow Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Lachlan Millar said today.
An Opposition Question on Notice has also revealed the Palaszczuk Government had issued 4721 letters to volunteers* threatening them with expulsion from the service if they didn’t meet Labor’s Blue Card demands.
“Labor threatens to sack rural firefighters from their jobs but then asks them to do a job they never signed up for,” Mr Millar said.
“Volunteer firies signed up to fight fires, not babysit Annastacia Palaszczuk’s border blockade.
“Labor is not only misusing firefighting resources at the border, they’ve threatened to sack volunteers over a Blue Card paperwork dispute.
“Rural firies have had a gutful.
“The focus of rural firefighters must be on community safety, hazard reduction burns and mitigating risks ahead of the bushfire season.
“Volunteer rural firies should be on standby for bushfires in Queensland, not on standby for New South Welshman at the border.
“Labor Minister Craig Crawford must apologise to each and every rural fire volunteer over his Blue Card bungle and now the border blunder.
“An LNP Government led by Deb Frecklington would work with our rural firies, not threaten them with the sack and help keep our communities safe.
“On behalf of the LNP, I would like to thank every Queensland fire volunteer for their hard work and professionalism in serving our community.”
*Question on Notice No. 474: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2020/474-2020.pdf
