Friday, 26th February 2010

Parliamentary Accounts Committee members and RFBAQ meet in Toowoomba

The weekend of the 19th to the 20th February, saw the RFBAQ General Meeting being held in Toowoomba. Elected Representatives from across the State gathered and carried matters forward that will improve conditions and recognition for Volunteer Fire-Fighters and Fire Wardens.

Friday night saw the Gowrie Little Plain Rural Fire Brigade provide a welcome and BBQ for the RFBAQ in the QCWA hall. Simultaneously with our arrival saw the Kingsthorpe medium attack responded to a kitchen fire in a nearby area. The Gowrie Little Plain Rurals were responded at the same time as a red truck to this call, and this really exemplifies how Volunteer fire-fighters are able to support the community as a whole.

Standing orders were suspended on Saturday to allow for the members of the Parliamentary Account Committee to speak to representatives of the RFBAQ, and deliver a presentation of the outline of the RFBAQ submission.

The Chair of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee, Mr Wayne Wendt MP, stated that the Committee would like to see submissions from all interested parties; and that the RFBAQ is the peak body for Volunteer fire-fighter representation in Queensland.

Submissions close Friday 19th March 2010 –

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/committees/documents/PAPWC/other/DP%20Rural%20Fires.pdf

Mr Wendt also asked that submissions contain potential outcomes, and not just the isolation of perceived problems. The President and CEO of the RFBAQ fully endorsed Mr Wendt’s statement that submissions should, where possible, contain suggested improvements that would benefit not just Volunteer Fire-Fighters, but also the diverse communities that support them.

Saturday afternoon and evening saw standing orders resumed, and reports and summations given and general business introduced and carried. The RFBAQ during this time workshopped information received from the PAC, and will be delivering a comprehensive submission.

Sunday saw the meeting reconvene at the Masonic Lodge on Neil St, and this meeting was attended by local Volunteer fire-fighters and Group representatives.

The RFBAQ would like to thank all of the organisations and businesses that supported us while we were in Toowoomba, and especially the Volunteers and the Members and Research Staff from Parliament who gave of their time over the weekend.

The Annual General Meeting will be held in Townsville over the weekend of the 27, 28, 29 August 2010.