The NSW Premier held a press conference at 11am on 17 August 2022 in the Northern Rivers region announcing the release of the NSW Floods Inquiry Report and the government’s response to the recommendations. The Government has been sitting on the Report for a number of weeks, however calls from the NSW opposition, parliamentarians, and community representatives to make the report publicly available, without further delay, were finally heard.

PSA Engagement

PSA staff and delegates have been actively engaged with Resilience NSW (RNSW) members and RNSW management, tracking the unfolding events, after pre-emptive media reports over a week ago. PSA staff have attended all four all-staff meetings called by Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, including the staff meeting on 17 August 2022 after the government’s announcement.  We heard that the agency head has not been asked by the Government to stand down, nor has a firm decision been made about the Government’s plans for Resilience NSW.

We also heard the disappointment amongst dedicated staff, to many of the report’s findings in relation to Resilience NSW, which RNSW staff expressed as seemingly based on inaccurate or incorrect information and assumptions, with some of the report based on comments, opinions and claims citing little or no evidence, and in some cases, findings based on submissions that were made anonymously.

An example is a public misconception about agency responsibility for activation, management and/or resourcing of evacuation centres. We understand that NSW Police are responsible for Major Evacuation Centres (MECs) and Mass Care Facilities and that while Resilience NSW hosted Welfare Services Functional Area (WSFA), the activation, management and resourcing responsibility sits with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), NSW Police and the lead combat agency.  Resilience NSW, along with other agencies such as the NSW RFS and ADF, did provide support to DCJ and local authorities deploying personnel to assist with the resourcing of evacuation centres.

Certainly, an outcome of the Inquiry has been to highlight the need for clear lines of responsibility, communication and coordination of the integrated response and recovery efforts of all involved. The PSA understands that uncertainty concerning how the Report’s recommendations will be implemented, is difficult for RNSW staff.  However no particular outcome is yet set in stone as consultation is yet to commence. The PSA will continue to engage with RNSW management to ensure that we have all relevant information, as it comes to light and that formal consultation in accordance with Public Service Commission Agency Change Management Guidelines is adhered to in full.

The Flood Inquiry Report

On 20 March 2022, the NSW Government commissioned Professor Mary O’Kane AC and Former Police Commissioner, Mr Michael Fuller to lead an Inquiry into the preparedness, causes, responses to and recovery from the 2022 catastrophic flood event across NSW. The Inquiry held 144 meetings with community and stakeholders and received 1,494 submissions. The Inquiry received submissions from flood-affected residents, emergency and support personnel, organisations and the general public, including stories and photographs. To read the Report and recommendations follow the links below:

Summary Report of NSW Floods Inquiry

https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/noindex/2022-08/VOLUME_ONE_Summary_report.pdf

Full Report of NSW Floods Inquiry

https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/noindex/2022-08/VOLUME_TWO%20_Full%20report.pdf

Next Steps

The PSA is aware that the Department of Premier and Cabinet plans to engage with RNSW, together with other key stakeholders including the SES and RFS for consultation about the recommendations, over the coming weeks. We also note that no clear decisions about the form and future of Resilience NSW is likely to be determined for some time after that.

The PSA will continue to ensure that our RNSW members are kept well informed about any organizational change plans that will impact their employment; and we will continue to support members to maintain their public sector jobs throughout.

We also want to tell your stories and make more widely known, the valuable work that you do, engaging with communities in recovery. If you have stories that you would like to be told, please contact PSA delegate, Cally Sheehan [email: Cally Sheehan ] who will gather these to inform PSA communications about our Resilience NSW members.  We also urge you to encourage your RNSW colleagues to join the PSA, so that we can represent and support them.