All Rural Fire Brigades in Queensland are the same in legislation.
The 1,400 brigades are classified internally as one of 5 different categories, but in reality, there are only 2 categories: truck or non-truck brigades (Primary Producer Brigades, PPBs).
60% of Rural Fire Brigades in Queensland do not have a state supplied fire truck, and most of these PPBs don’t want one. This is something that weirds out other fire services in Australia and many of the newly hired staff in the Queensland Fire Department or those from non-rural backgrounds.
Primary producer brigades operate in the necessity of supporting your neighbour in their time of need. The gear used is often dual purpose and has a valuable link to everyday life such as watering stock or maintaining crops. Often the ‘Fire Brigade' is another cog of the many community groups in the small communities making up Queensland. - https://www.rfbaq.org/announcements/primary-producer-brigades-in-queensland
These brigades can be broken into 3 categories – Cane, Broadacre and Grazing. In each instance the brigade members provide their own vehicles and trucks to fight fires. How they are supported by the QFD / State has now changed.
Up until the 21st April 2026 RFBM D4.3 - Self Insurance Claims was in forced – (attached). This was the insurance environment that PPBs have worked under for decades.
Without consultation with or notification to the RFBAQ, this was replaced on the 21st April 2026 with PR6160 – Insurance for Privately-Owned Vehicles Used by Rural
Fire Brigade Members (attached)
The changes are massive. RFSQ Inspectors from rural areas have informed the QFD & RFSQ head office in Brisbane that these new restrictive insurance support policies will not work and they were ignored.
The RFBAQ has raised these matters with the former Chief Officer, the current Chief Officer and Commissioner repeatedly in writing and in person, and we have been ignored. The last request from the RFBAQ was in the meeting with RFSQ a/Chief Officer and a/Deputy Chief Officer on the 14th April, where we asked that we be engaged with or shown the final draft before changes are released. This was ignored.
This new policy will see a landholders body truck that carries the RFSQ supplied 5,000l skid not being insured. https://www.rfbaq.org/announcements/ahead-of-fire-season-the-first-5000l-skids-arrive-in-the-central-west
This new policy will see a landholders cane trailer that carries a 3 or 5,000l RFSQ supplied water tank with RFSQ supplied pump and hose reel not covered.
This new policy will see a landholder having to stay on the fire ground indefinitely, as they are in practice, the only ones who will be insured driving their own vehicles.
The list of what’s wrong with this document is very long and will see PPB members unwilling to supply equipment to fight fires across Queensland.
It is amazing to see this restrictive and unworkable policy released so soon after the Local Government, Small Business and Customer Service Committee Inquiry into volunteering in Queensland report.
An inquiry that found that supporting volunteers with insurance was a key to recruitment and retention.
Minister Ann Leahy: please direct the QFD Commissioner to retract this document and return RFBM D4.3 - Self Insurance Claims.
Minister Ann Leahy: please direct the QFD Commissioner and RFSQ Chief Officer to honestly engage with the RFBAQ to ensure that the fire service works for the benefit of Queenslanders; instead of it attempting to protect its corporate identity from the perceived risk that volunteer pose.