Delegates on the National Parks Vocational Branch (NPVB) Executive held their quarterly meeting on Tuesday 12 August and discussed the following matters.

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water regulatory review

Delegates raised concerns that the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) regulatory review had been completed without any liaison with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Law Enforcement and Compliance Working Group. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the review ignores NPWS’s law enforcement role, the seriousness of wildlife crime and the essential training and investigation support provided to NPWS by the Specialist Investigations Section. There was disappointment that the work carried out to date on improving NPWS’s approach to wildlife licensing and compliance may be wasted.

The Public Service Association (PSA) has used the outcomes of the survey across both Conservation Programs, Heritage and Regulation (CPHR) and NPWS to advise DCCEEW of the issues that must be considered in further detail before the change management plan is prepared.

Law enforcement 

The PSA continues to raise concerns regarding inadequate support for law-enforcement efforts in NPWS parks. We are aware that DCCEEW Legal has required Park Operations branches to pay for external legal counsel due to the Department lacking the technical expertise to prosecute matters in court. There have also been complaints that DCCEEW Legal also has few staff with a working knowledge of the National Parks and Wildlife Act and Regulation.

Ranger progression

Delegates were pleased to hear that, as of 6 August, all backpay issues have been sorted with a couple of good wins (such as an extra 5 months of backpay due to wrong processing of the progression application). It seems most responses to the six-month review have been positive. Current improvements under consideration include additional materials to be sent to Team Leader Rangers to assist them in interpreting attainment of the appropriate level in some criteria.

Domestic and Family Violence leave and support

PSA Women’s Officer Simone Scalmer joined the meeting and spoke on Domestic and Family Violence (DVF) leave and support. The PSA was the first union in Australia to secure DFV leave but there are still issues across all departments in how it is managed. The PSA is tackling those collective issues, many of which arise due to poor handling of applications for DFV leave or workplace adjustments by management and HR specialists. These issues, in turn, cause secondary harm to people experiencing DFV.

PSA has created a Fact Sheet on this issue.

Aboriginal issues

Delegates identified that NPWS needs a better system to spread the responsibility and workload associated with cultural heritage management and protection, so that the additional responsibility and workload (known as cultural load) are less overwhelming for Aboriginal staff. When it comes to protection of cultural sites, this should be identified as a workplace responsibility for all NPWS staff. Accordingly, the PSA will be advocating that all role descriptions should clearly identify the additional responsibility to care for and maintain cultural sites, and require Aboriginal Cultural Heritage sites training be made compulsory.

Your Delegate team

Aimee Poole Greater Sydney Branch and admin members
Andy Leach Parramatta and park programs members
Anita Zubovic West Branch
Annie Thompson Aboriginal staff representative
Ben Owers South Coast
Campbell Young All non-field staff in Southern Ranges Branch
Jacq Reid Hunter Central Coast Branch
Janet Cavanaugh North Coast Branch
Jules Bald Northern Inland Branch
Naomi Goosen Blue Mountains Branch and women members
Pete Mylan Field staff, Perisher/Waste point/Snowy
Steve Carter Field staff, Blowering, Tumut and Yarrangobilly

PSA staff

Kim de Govrik Organiser
Michael Sinclair Industrial Officer