BULLETIN
Bulletin No: 128 Volume: 22 Monday 18 July 2016
To: ALL UFU MEMBERS
IS “INTEGRITY ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL AT MFB”?
“Axe falls on ambulance head office”
The UFU’s Bulletin last Friday included a link to the news article “Ambo Chiefs Spent $150,000 on travel” referring to the use of Queensland Ambulance Service funds used for “jet-setting” by the then Queensland Ambulance Services Commissioner Jim Higgins.
That Bulletin referenced MFB CO Rau’s email to all staff titled “Integrity absolutely essential at MFB” where he attempted to vilify an individual employee and the UFU.
As explained, it appears that double-standards are being applied at the MFB.
Members are further informed that one of Queensland Premier Anna Bligh’s first decisions upon election was to order an audit into the “crisis-hit” Queensland ambulance service.
The Courier Mail reported at that time in an article titled “Axe falls on ambulance head office” that the audit “revealed a top-heavy bureaucracy that had not used record funding properly”.
“A tough-talking Premier said she wanted fewer “bums on seats” at QAS headquarters at Kedron in Brisbane and more paramedics out on the road saving lives.
“We need the QAS to get back to the basics – less people at head office and more on the front line,” Ms Bligh said.
She also signalled an end to QAS bosses taking numerous overseas and interstate trips at taxpayers’ expense.
A Sunday Mail report last month revealed Ambulance Commissioner Jim Higgins and his deputy Neil Kirby had enjoyed four years of jet-setting, costing the public more than $150,000.
Ms Bligh dumped emergency services’ then-director-general Fiona McKersie in September, and effectively put Mr Higgins on notice with the hard-hitting audit”.”
The full article can “Axe falls on ambulance head office” can be accessed via http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/ambulance-shake-up-order/story-e6freon6-1111115122936
Further information on the double-standards will follow.
In the interim if you have any queries regarding the above please contact Peter Marshall on 0419 127 004.
Strength in Unity
READ OUT AT MUSTER AND PIN ON NOTICE BOARD
Authorised by Peter Marshall, Branch Secretary