The Firefighting Industry Agreement expired in June 2021 and a new agreement was not registered until 6 March 2023. Tasmanian Firefighters are the lowest paid in Australia. While bills are going up by more than 5%, the Tasmanian government is initially offered Firefighters 2.35% and 2% over two years.
After the government broke off negotiations twice, Firefighters escalated industrial action and the government agreed to additional benefits: 0% in 2021, $1000 pay rise and 5.85% in 2022, 3% in 2023, 3% in 2024.
Whilst this outcome far exceeds what the government initially offered, this still leaves Tasmanian Firefighters as the lowest paid in Australia by quite some way. On top of having the lowest base rate of pay, Tasmanian Firefighters have fewer allowances, no penalty rates and the lowest superannuation payments.
It should not take 21 months to negotiate an agreement that still leaves Tasmanian Firefighters this far behind every other Firefighter in Australia.
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