NSW residents were told it would never happen again, but right now those in flood-impacted areas of Northern NSW are at risk of reliving the operational failures of 2022.
Early reports from the incident ground are raising serious concerns with the capacity of the NSW SES as lead agency to provide adequate leadership and effective coordination of response efforts, resulting in delayed response and the underutilisation of FRNSW capability in the field.
The FBEU acknowledges that members are incredibly frustrated by these circumstances, which highlight an inability of the Emergency Services Sector to respond to the lessons learned from past inquiries into major disasters.
The Union has been consistent in its messaging to the NSW Government for more than a decade – professional emergency services must be at the core of all responses to natural disasters. It is unreasonable to expect volunteers to perform in the same manner as the professional workforce who are at the ready seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Volunteers play a vital role in support, including providing surge capacity of human resources on the ground, but with volunteering in a national decline it is crucial that the NSW Government now act, without fear of political repercussions, to ensure our response standards adequately meet community needs and expectations.
The FBEU will have more to say on this matter in due course. In the meantime, members are encouraged to document their experiences on the ground which the Union will endeavour to collate in the event of a Government Inquiry.
RESPONSE CAPABILITY FOR SYDNEY METRO INCIDENTS
Following Sitrep 13/2025, FBEU Officials have this week met with the new Transport Minister, the Hon. John Graham, to progress discussions concerning the permanent resourcing of a specialist emergency response capability for incidents occurring on Sydney Metro rail lines.
Last month, Sydney Metro cited to a Budget Estimates Committee that there have been 558 incidents requiring emergency response on the existing Metro in the past 12 months. The FBEU understands that these incidents have been carried out with assistance from the Rail Fire & Emergency (RFE), an important specialised unit operating under the Sydney Trains agency.
Members will recall that the RFE are operating under a temporary Service Level Agreement for Metro incidents, and that the funding for a permanent equivalent capability – as required by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) – is yet to be resolved.
