News

ALTERNATIVE DUTIES Recently the Department rolled out a blanket policy that permanent firefighters in metro operations on alternative duties, for whatever reason, would only be offered work on the back-to-back roster at a zone office. After a dispute in the […]

Published 26 September 2025 CODE RED – Duty Wear Shorts With warmer weather well and truly upon us, and in the interest of health and safety, the FBEU is once again taking action where the Department will not, this time […]

Published 26 September 2025 CODE RED LIFTED – Attendance Management Policy This notice is to rescind the existing Code Red for the Attendance Management Policy dated 20 February 2024. From today, the following process will instead be in place. Following […]

Notice of 2025 AGM The first of the 2025 AGMs will be held on 28 October at 1000 hours, and the closing meeting will be held on 8 November at 1200 hours. A reminder for all Country and Retained Sub-Branch […]

PRESUMPTIVE CANCER BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Yesterday in the Legislative Council (Upper House), the Opposition and Crossbench suspended standing orders to bring on a vote of the presumptive cancer legislation that was debated last week. It passed the […]

PRESUMPTIVE CANCER BILL DEBATED As covered in Sitrep 25/2025, the NSW Opposition recently tabled a bill in the NSW Parliament in support of expanding the existing list of occupational firefighter cancers covered by NSW presumptive cancer legislation. Members can find […]

CODE RED – Media Room Several months ago, the Department “found” $265,374.86 left over in its properties budget and decided, rather than fund improvements to frontline fire stations, to convert operational space in Sydney Communications into a “media room”. This […]

IRC AWARD ARBITRATION DECISION – UPDATE As previously discussed, a large body of work continues to progress as both the FBEU and the Department continue to work through the IRC’s recent Award decision. All elements of this work, from the […]

CODE RED – Metro North Reliever Transfers Metro North Command has been forcing Firefighters at Leading ranks into Relieving positions in breach of their own Mobility policy and SitRep 3/2015. Despite efforts to ensure compliance, members continue to be transferred […]

IRC AWARD ARBITRATION DECISION – UPDATE Following Sitrep 27/2025, the FBEU has this week continued to meet with FRNSW to review the implications and practical application of various aspects of the IRC’s Award decision. These meetings will continue regularly as […]

IRC AWARD ARBITRATION DECISION – FURTHER STEPS Further to yesterday’s Sitrep we continue to review and consider the impact of the decision issued yesterday by the IRC. For those who have taken the time to read it in full, as […]

IRC AWARD ARBITRATION DECISION This morning the IRC handed down its decision in our Award Arbitration for all three Awards after five months of deliberation. Respect, Protect, Value your firefighters was the message members took the NSW Government. Our Log […]