Tasmanian firefighters win nightly allowance after tribunal ruling
Nine firefighter trainees won a $45.50 nightly camping allowance. Tasmania's tribunal ruled their academy stay was not commercial.
Nine firefighter recruits from Tasmania's North-West Coast won a dispute over their accommodation during training. The Industrial Commission ruled they are entitled to a daily camping allowance of $45.50 under their industrial agreement.
The firefighters stayed at the Tasmania Police Academy at Rokeby in 2023 during their training. The department said the academy's private rooms, private bathrooms, housekeeping and meals made it like a commercial hotel.
But the tribunal disagreed. It noted the academy lacked basics found in motels: no visitor chairs, no television, no fridge, no tea-making facilities.
Strict rules on alcohol, visitors and dress codes also made it unlike any commercial hotel. The nine will receive back pay for each night they stayed.
- $45.50
- Nightly allowance
- nine
- Trainees affected
- September to December 2023
- Training dates
- Tasmania Police Academy at Rokeby
- Facility
Why it mattersThe ruling confirms that employer-owned training facilities, however comfortable, are not commercial accommodation. Workers must get the allowances their agreements promise.
AustraliaTasmanian firefighter trainees now receive the allowance they were owed, and similar disputes across emergency services may be settled by this decision.
Corroborated bytheadvocate.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
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