Queensland Fire Department (QFD) reached in-principle agreement with Queensland Professional Firefighters' Union, Industrial Union of Employees (QPFU), Queensland Fire and Rescue – Senior Officers Union of Employees (SOU), Together Queensland, Industrial Union of Employees (TQ) on 7 August 2025 for a replacement Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Certified Agreement 2022 (CA22).

QFD has a legislative obligation to inform employees who are covered by the proposed CA25 about the content of the proposed agreement before employees can vote. Consultation provides employees with an opportunity to make an informed choice when voting on whether to accept or reject the proposed agreement. If the proposed agreement is approved by employees, QFD will apply to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to certify the agreement as soon as possible after the ballot.

During the consultation period, employees to be covered by CA25 can find all the explanatory information and a copy of the proposed agreement on this page.

A guaranteed 8% increase over 3 years as follows:

• 3% in Year 1 from 1 August 2025 paid on the applicable rate of pay at 30 June 2025.
• 2.5% in Year 2 from 1 August 2026 
• 2.5% in Year 3 from 1 August 2027 

In addition to the wage increases, CA25 includes the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, Uplift Adjustment. The CPI Uplift Adjustment, or CUA, is a part of the wage increase designed to respond to inflationary conditions. It responds by ‘topping up’ the guaranteed wage increases under the agreement to provide up to a maximum wage increase of 3.5% in each year of the agreement, when certain conditions are met. There is also a new operative date of 1 August 2025 and a new nominal expiry of 31 July 2028. 

Some of the key features of the proposed CA25 are summarised below, however please refer to the proposed agreement for all inclusions. 

• Operational adjustment allowance increase recognising the evolving risks and operational demands of firefighting, including emerging risks such as electric vehicles and battery fires. 
• Regional Attraction and Retention package including a new fortnightly attraction allowance and annual retention payment for employees working in regional, rural and remote locations, with payments of up to $4000 per year depending on location.
• Expanded overtime meal allowance eligibility, including when employees are required to work within 60 minutes before or after their rostered shift start time, and during specified daytime periods. 
• New and updated rostering arrangements, including development of an on-call rostering framework, transition to an 8-week roster cycle for Rural Fire Operational Officers, and new rostering and remuneration arrangements for Regional Duty Managers.
• Continued Investment in Rural Fire Service capability and career development, including a review of Professional Development Framework, ongoing investment in training and equipment, and improved workforce planning and arrangements.
• Continuation and review of operational staffing models, including the Station Crewing Model and review of Operational Senior Officer roles and rostering, with existing employment conditions protected.
• Improved Consultation, governance and workforce processes, including new consultative committees, workforce mobility arrangements, work value review processes, and review of Local Knowledge Templates/Procedures.
• Clarification of modernisation of employment conditions, including sick leave evidentiary requirements.

• Proposed CA25 draft agreement (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Proposed Agreement with highlights on the new/changed clauses  (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Proposed CA25 agreement summary (PDF, 733 KB)
• Proposed CA25 information session video transcript (PDF, 551 KB) - refer to 'Information session' video at bottom of page
• Proposed CA25 information session slides only (PDF, 7.3 MB)
• Proposed CA25 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF, 752 KB)
• Proposed CA25 wages table (PDF, 183 KB)
• CUA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF, 1 MB)
• CUA effect of terms (PDF, 302 KB)
• GoVote ballot notification letter (PDF, 111 KB)
• Form 50 Notice of Intention to terminate CA22 (unsigned) (PDF, 181 KB)

Following the consultation period, employees will be able to vote on whether they accept the proposed CA25. An external company, called GoVote, is conducting this ballot on behalf of QFD.

Ballot information, including full instructions on how to cast a vote, will be sent to the email account associated with each employee’s Aurion ESS account, and will be available online. GoVote will provide a 24/7 telephone enquiry line for any questions on the ballot.

Voting will be open to all QFD operational employees currently covered by CA22 with eligible voters able to vote by phone, SMS or internet.

The ballot will open at 7am on 19 March 2026 and closes at 5pm on 25 March 2026.

If a valid majority (that is 50% + one) of employees who vote, approve the proposed CA25, the parties will make an application to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for certification. The CA22 will be terminated following certification of CA25.

Once this has occurred, the new wage rates and other conditions will take effect, with back pay to 1 August 2025 for wages.

Should a valid majority not be achieved, QFD, QPFU, QFR SOU and TQ will meet to discuss options.

Where an employee has a question in relation to the proposed Agreement, an employee may wish to contact their union representatives or QFD CA25 representative.