❓ A WA parliamentary question reveals that a significant number of DFES staff and volunteers haven't completed mandatory code of conduct training, and details complaints, breaches, and penalties applied to DFES members over three years, including instances of unauthorised communication with MPs.
AnsweredQoN 811Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) code of conduct, and I ask: (a) has every DFES member, whether staff or volunteer, completed the mandatory training; (b) if no to (a), how many have not completed the mandatory training; (c) if no to (a), what has been the consequence in each instance for non-compliance; (d) for each of the following years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, how many complaints have been initiated or made against a DFES member, whether staff or volunteer; (e) for each instance identified in (d), how many matters were sustained as a breach of the code of conduct; (f) of the instances identified in (d), how many matters related to unauthorised communication between a DFES member and a Member of Parliament; and (g) for each instance identified in (d), that resulted in a breach of the code, what was the penalty or penalties applied?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 September 2022
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
9 days
(a) No.
(b) 28 DFES Staff & 4,328 DFES volunteers (excluding Bush Fire Brigades) still need to complete the training.
(c) To date there has been no need to take any action against DFES staff member for non-compliance. While there is an expectation that DFES volunteers will complete the online Code of Conduct training, there is no sanction for not completing it.
(d) 2019 – 32
2020 – 56 2021 – 83
(e) 2019 – 24
2020 – 27 2021 – 26
(f) 2019 – 2
2020 – 1 2021 – 7
(g)
2019
Number
No Action
5
Caution
2
Reprimand
1
Demotion
1
Suspended
2
Terminated
8
Resigned
5
2020
Number
No Action
7
Warning
7
Caution
3
Improvement Action
2
Lawful Direction
1
Fined
1
Demotion
1
Terminated
4
Resigned
1
2021
Number
No Action
2
Warning
1
Reprimand
4
Improvement Action
3
Demotion
2
Terminated
5
Resigned
9
(b) 28 DFES Staff & 4,328 DFES volunteers (excluding Bush Fire Brigades) still need to complete the training.
(c) To date there has been no need to take any action against DFES staff member for non-compliance. While there is an expectation that DFES volunteers will complete the online Code of Conduct training, there is no sanction for not completing it.
(d) 2019 – 32
2020 – 56 2021 – 83
(e) 2019 – 24
2020 – 27 2021 – 26
(f) 2019 – 2
2020 – 1 2021 – 7
(g)
2019
Number
No Action
5
Caution
2
Reprimand
1
Demotion
1
Suspended
2
Terminated
8
Resigned
5
2020
Number
No Action
7
Warning
7
Caution
3
Improvement Action
2
Lawful Direction
1
Fined
1
Demotion
1
Terminated
4
Resigned
1
2021
Number
No Action
2
Warning
1
Reprimand
4
Improvement Action
3
Demotion
2
Terminated
5
Resigned
9
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