Under a new rule that has been branded “ludicrous,” thousands of volunteer firefighters in Queensland, Australia, could get banned from doing their job – saving lives.
According to the new law, Queensland volunteers will have to obtain work-with-children permission before being allowed to work as firefighters.
As the government announced, all of the state’s volunteers will be required to obtain a new Blue Card with the work-with-children check in order to continue battling flames.
As for the reason behind this change, the authorities said they implemented the rule because firefighters might get in contact with children during their work.
While the decision was praised by some, the majority of people found it disrespectful to suggest that volunteer firefighters, who risk their lives to save innocent souls, will have to obtain a new Blue Card.
In addition, the critics have slammed the new rule because firefighters, unlike teachers, for example, rarely get to spend much time with children during their work.
Nevertheless, 15,000 volunteers are facing the sack if they fail to request permission to work with children.
“Any QFES volunteer who is required to have a Blue Card, but refuses to apply for one, or is unable to hold a current Blue Card, will not be able to continue their role,” John Bolger, the QFES Deputy Commissioner, said in a statement to the volunteers.
“As a member of the Rural Fire Service, you are likely to come into contact with children while performing your role, so are required to have a Blue Card. It is the law.”
Slamming the new rule, which is not effective in Victoria and NSW, was Justin Choveaux, the leader of the Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland.
“They defend the state for free and do dangerous things. Getting rid of 75 per cent of the membership of the truck brigades is not a good plan,” he said in an interview with The Courier Mail.
Mr. Choveaux has also expressed concerns as many of the volunteers feel offended by being treated like probable pedophiles.
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Replaced!