News

SitRep 36/2026

October 19, 2026

2026 AGM – UPDATE

Meetings have now been locked in for the 2026 AGM. There are 37 AGMs at Retained stations and 15 at Country Mixed stations, for a total of 62 meetings across the state over 10 days. You can view the meeting list here. Please print this list and place it at your station so that members can choose a convenient meeting to attend.

I am pleased to see such a high level of engagement and interest in Union democracy. With our Award negotiations ongoing, and other collective industrial issues progressing, it’s more important than ever to be informed and make your voice heard.

As a reminder, the agenda for the AGM is as follows:

1. Acceptance of minutes of the 2025 AGM
2. State Secretary’s Report

SGMs to consider and vote on Award bargaining related matters are very likely to occur concurrently with the AGMs.

Further information will be provided about SGMs later this week.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE WORK AND PAYMENTS

We recently met with HSRs across the state who informed us that their ability to perform their duties, and to be paid for doing so, are being restricted by the Department in a way that we believe is inconsistent with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025.

HSRs should use their powers and undertaken their functions with reference only to the legislative framework and any guidance provided by SafeWork NSW. This handbook from SafeWork NSW is an excellent starting point. Any additional information provided by the Department about HSR work must not conflict in any way with the legislative framework, and if it does, it should be disregarded and not followed.

Any disputes from HSRs about the performance of HSR work and/or payment of that work, should be managed through the chain of command in the first instance, with the FBEU office available to assist with resolution of disputes if the Department does not resolve the matter.

In Unity,

Leighton Drury
State Secretary

Click here to download a printable version of this SitRep.