The Queensland Government is undertaking a reform program to address the function and structure, culture, efficiency and funding and sustainability of our disaster and emergency services.
The reforms will see an uplift of almost 500 full-time emergency services personnel, while dedicated budgets will boost resourcing across Queensland, ensuring we can continue to support Queenslanders when they need it most.
In July 2021, the Queensland Government commissioned an independent review of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) and its associated volunteer services. The goal of the review was to ensure the long-term sustainability of emergency services delivery for Queenslanders. This included assessing the existing scope, functions and suitability of the QFES structure and its funding arrangements.
Multiple recommendations made by the review have been accepted in principle by the Government and address function and structure, culture, efficiency and funding and sustainability.
With Queensland experiencing more natural disasters than any other state in the country, the Disaster Management Arrangements in our state have become extremely robust through activation, exercise and lessons management.
However, we must be responsive to ensure you, as our state’s emergency service providers, are equipped with the resources and organisational structures you need to keep Queenslanders safe in times of disaster, now and in the future.
In 2020, the Queensland Government announced its commitment to establishing a single, integrated and legislated state-wide marine rescue service, to be known as Marine Rescue Queensland.
Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) will be a single entity dedicated to protecting Queenslanders in our oceans and waterways.
The Queensland Government committed an initial $35.38 million investment for replacement vessels and transition support to establish the single integrated marine rescue service in 2020. Further investment of $8 million was announced in 2022 with $5 million for vessel replacement and $3 million for service capability.
Marine rescue services in Queensland are currently delivered by two volunteer organisations: The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association and Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland.
Through these two organisations, 3,000 Queensland volunteers currently undertake approximately 4,000 activations operating across 47 units throughout the state each year.
Sitting within the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and building on the great relationship with Water Police, MRQ will receive approximately $27 million for frontline support, resources, vessels and equipment and will have its own separate identity, procedures and uniforms.
The new MRQ brings together the extraordinary wealth of expertise and diverse geographic knowledge of our existing marine rescue volunteers alongside the Queensland government’s commitment and investment..
Until Marine Rescue Queensland is fully operational, marine rescue services will continue to be delivered by the passionate and dedicated volunteers from Volunteer Marine Rescue and Coast Guard. People enjoying our coastlines and waterways will still be protected by the tirelessly dedicated marine rescue volunteers, as they always have been.
Work is underway. The Marine Rescue Implementation Program (MRIP) has been stood up and has been working closely with volunteer organisations and Water Police.
The Reform Implementation Taskforce will continue to work with the MRIP team to establish MRQ, which will occur by 30 June 2024.
We are aware of the impacts of recent disasters in Queensland and have committed to no degradation of services for the community while this work is underway.
You’ll hear about what the Reform Implementation Taskforce (RIT) is working on through your existing communications channels, via emails, through your management and leadership teams or you could:
