Queensland Parliament’s Community Support and Services Committee has produced their report into three pieces of legislation following reviews into our state’s emergency services and disaster services arrangements.
Volunteering Queensland provided a submission and appeared at a public hearing of the Committee. While Volunteering Queensland supported the legislation, the core message in our submission and public evidence to the Committee was that volunteers in disaster management need to be valued, respected and supported.
Evidence given to the inquiry by the Qld SES Volunteer Association stated that “approximately 96 per cent of members of the SES workforce are volunteers”. In response to Volunteering Queensland’s submission emphasising the need to protect the rights of volunteer workers in disaster management and recovery, the Qld Police Service assured the Committee that they would “develop complaint management guidelines for Marine Rescue Qld and SES volunteers that align with due process and natural justice principles”
For those interested in the transcript of the public hearing for the Committee, including representatives from the Aust Volunteering Coast Guard Association, the Qld SES Volunteer Association and Volunteering Queensland, it can be found here – Transcript – 4 March 2024 – CSSC – Hearing – Inquiry into the Emergency Services bills
The Committee’s reports can be found at here – Reports 40, 41 and 42.