The NSW Government is considering the merging of SES and RFS support staff and corporate functions following the suggestions from the recent NSW Flood Inquiry. The Public Service Association (PSA) has called on the Government to halt the proposed merger, calling the move out as ‘budget cuts’.

The merging of the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and State Emergency Service (SES) isn’t a new concept to the existing staff where whispers of mergers have risen over the past few years, but fears have been lit afresh with the possibility growing more real than ever. 

The recommendations from the flood inquiry suggested that RFS back-office and corporate service functions merge, while maintaining their own distinct roles, legislative identity, uniform and volunteer management. 

According to the recommendation, “the new RFS/SES corporate support structure would be under the command of the RFS given its corporate and operational maturity.”



In response, the NSW Government has supported the merger ‘in principle’, but acknowledged that further work would be required to implement the move, including the ‘feasibility of undertaking this before the next storm season’. 

PSA General Secretary Stewart Little said that no benefit can come from the merger. 

“Neither the RFS or the SES have significant support staff resources as is. It’s hard to see how merging their functions will improve matters,” Mr Little said. 

“The Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service were designed to operate separately for a reason. They serve completely different functions,” he said.

So far, no consultation has occurred with relevant staff or affected communities. 

“The Premier needs to pause and realise that if he doesn’t move cautiously and collaboratively he is literally risking the lives of people across the state,” Mr Little said. 

“The RFS had hundreds of vacancies heading into the recent catastrophic bushfires and this situation has not improved significantly since. The SES have had their budget repeatedly slashed by this government and desperately need a period of stability to consolidate,” he said. 

The inquiry suggested the merger on the basis of improvements to resourcing and frontline capability ahead of the next storm season. 

The recommendation includes making the new RFS responsible for establishing a planning unit to help better prepare communities and a fulltime SES position for each high-risk catchment to ensure flood identification.

Mr Little said the Premier's track record was a source of concern to RFS and SES staff. 

"If form is any kind of guide, when the Premier says 'merger' what he really means is 'budget cuts,'" he said. 

"It takes a special kind of arrogance to look at the recent history of disaster response in this state and say, 'You know what I think we need? To get out the razor.'"

Resilience NSW is also expected to be dismantled and reshaped to Recovery NSW, as part of supporting all 28 recommendations from the inquiry.

The NSW Government said in their response to the inquiry that no merger will occur without consultation with volunteers and consideration into the implications.