Firstly, thank you from the Fisheries Officers Vocational Branch (FOVB) Executive and the PSA for your support and solidarity during this challenging time.

On Thursday last week the PSA/FOVB were invited to a meeting with the Deputy Secretary Fisheries and Forestry (Sean Sloan), the A/ED Fisheries (Peter Turnell), the DFC, a representative from Minister Moriarty’s office and members from the HR and IR teams in response to our recently imposed work bans. Without boring you with minute detail, the Deputy Secretary believes the Department has done all they can to improve our safety and operational effectiveness concerns. The meeting was attended by PSA Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright who told the Deputy Secretary that nothing they can say now will stop the current work bans. How they respond going forward will determine if we extend the work bans.

Following the meeting the PSA/FOVB sent a letter to the Deputy Secretary expanding on the points that were raised by him in the meeting and further outlining our current issues, including why the activities currently subject to the work bans were unsafe.  You can read this correspondence HERE.

The Deputy Secretary responded, demanding that the work bans cease by 5pm 19 September 2024. You can read this correspondence HERE.  The PSA/FOVB considers the response to be dismissive of the issues and an inadequate response to our safety and operational effectiveness concerns. As such we will not be lifting the current work bans and will continue to consider our position in the days and weeks to come.

Please take the time to read both correspondence so you are across the ongoing issues and the Department’s current position.

The PSA/FOVB will always fight for the safety of our members.