http://www.dailytelegraph.com.

au/news/fire-brigade-training-puts-lives-at-risk/story-e6freuy9-1225908284263

Fire brigade training puts lives at risk

By JENNIFER SEXTON From: The Sunday Telegraph August 22, 2010 12:12AM

DEFICIENT training and a low priority on education could result in firefighters or members of the public being injured or killed, confidential reports have warned. Three critical reports, obtained by The Sunday Telegraph and produced over the past four years have persistently exposed gaping holes in the NSW Fire Brigades' (NSWFB) training programs, equipment and facilities. The revelations come as the NSWFB prepares to slash training programs.

Recruit training will be cut by four weeks to 12, the inspector's course will be halved to six weeks and station officers' training is to be cut from nine weeks to six. Cuts at Alexandria Training College are anticipated. "The restructure is going to be to the detriment of training," one high-ranking insider told The Sunday Telegraph. Opposition Emergency Services spokeswoman Melinda Pavey said public safety was at risk. A confidential training review in 2006 linked the Brigades' education and training failings to the deaths in 1999 of three workers. It warned more could die if the NSWFB did not reverse the low priority placed on training and development.

The report made 34 recommendations and concluded that NSWFB's capability was being eroded by obsolete training, a lack of skills maintenance training and by old facilities at the Alexandria Training College. Mr Mullins declined to say which recommendations had been implemented, only that the "restructure is consistent with the findings of the Ellis Report". He also declined to provide a copy of a more recent draft report, called Training Needs Analysis, but admitted the restructure was being implemented before it had been finalised. In another report, Sparke Helmore Lawyers told the NSWFB in January, 2007 that the organisation was exposed to legal action by training retained firefighters for six days compared with the 16 weeks provided for permanent firefighters. "The NSWFB is working very hard to reduce its injury management costs and to support staff in their recovery and return to work," Mr Mullins said.

Excerpt: It said powerful networks of senior officers were able to dictate promotions and placements of officers. "Cliques, or the membership of external bodies, may also play a role in career advancement."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/fire-service-corruption-covered-up/story-e6freuzi-1226339311971

Fire Service corruption covered up

Mark Morri The Daily Telegraph April 27, 2012 12:00AM

A FIRE brigade officer spent $13,700 buying Christmas hams from his local butcher and golf partner to give out on behalf of the department. It was one of dozens of corrupt acts deleted from an ICAC report into the NSW Fire and Rescue service. The ICAC report said there was systematic corruption and cronyism inside the service but major sections of the report were deleted when the findings were published.Some of the details deleted included: 59 staff took sick time, annual leave and carers leave against regulations to work for a Queensland mining company. One of those signed a statuary declaration saying his son had swine flu; AN officer received $10,000 worth of discounts for personal travel; ONE section had a cash float of $2000 with no accountability; MORE than 1000 officers had credit cards (that is now 500); AN officer had a bobcat in his garage for several years even though it was departmental property; and THE $13,700 worth of Christmas hams were bought over seven years.

The FRNSW was handed the report in June last year and published the doctored report in August, releasing it late on a Friday afternoon. FRNSW said the deletions were to protect officers not guilty of misconduct."If not redacted (sections) potentially identified individuals and business units which had the potential to inadvertently implicate staff in those work areas that were not directly involved. ICAC were consulted about this process," a spokesman said. The department said the doctored report was put on its website last August and staff were emailed about its existence. Staff said the release of the report was deliberately underplayed. "The email went out on a Friday afternoon at 5.30pm and the report is hard to find on the website. It lacks transparency," one insider said. ICAC said the service was implementing changes as a result of this and other reports. It said powerful networks of senior officers were able to dictate promotions and placements of officers. "Cliques, or the membership of external bodies, may also play a role in career advancement." The practices of buying equipment out of contract, order splitting, and unauthorised purchases by credit cards and petty cash were cited.