New arrangements formalised for Public Safety Business Agency

Published Tuesday, 30 August, 2016 at 07:06 PM

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services
The Honourable Bill Byrne

The Palaszczuk Government has taken another step forward in its election commitment to unravel the bureaucratic mess that the former LNP Government created in the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA).

New legislation based on recommendations from the PSBA review was today passed by Parliament.

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services, Bill Byrne, said the passing of the Public Safety Business Agency and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 ensured the PSBA did the best thing for all emergency services and went back to basics.

“The new legislation puts into formal effect a range of recommendations from the PSBA review, including amending the functions of the PSBA, establishing the PSBA Board of Management, finalising machinery-of-government changes that will shortly allow Blue Card Services to transition to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General and allowing for the comprehensive integration of State Government Security into the Queensland Police Service,” Minister Byrne said.

“The review recommended the PSBA go back to basics and focus purely on being a provider of high quality corporate and support services to other agencies within the public safety portfolio.

“Over the past few months, changes have already taken place to allow the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to regain control over functions critical to their operations, such as training academies, strategy and policy areas, and uniformed officers have also returned to their operational agencies.”

Already the Palaszczuk Government has transferred more than 760 employees, including 363 police officers, from PSBA to QPS, and 199 workers from PSBA to QFES, including 49 firefighters.

Based on June 30, 2016 data, 156 employees will go across to Department of Justice and the Attorney-General when Blue Card Services is transitioned. 

Minister Byrne said the PSBA would now be governed by a Board of Management, comprising of both the Police and Fire and Emergency Services commissioners, and an appointed external member, to ensure they had the necessary input into the design and delivery of the services they receive.

“I am confident these changes will improve the quality of support provided to public safety agencies, and enable them to better manage their operations,” Minister Byrne said.

ENDS

 

MEDIA CONTACT 

Minister Byrne’s office:                                0400 622 433