Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment

Bulletin 5 - negotiations update - issued on the 17 October 2025

Negotiations update

Discussions for the new NTPS Fire and Rescue Service Enterprise Agreement have continued over recent weeks, focusing on key workforce challenges and opportunities to strengthen recruitment and operational flexibility across the Service.

In response to the feedback we’ve received from across the Service, we’ve developed proposals aimed at addressing key workforce challenges specifically around the Difficult to Fill and Accelerated Recruitment Program Clauses within the Enterprise Agreement. These proposed changes aim to provide greater flexibility and enable the use of additional mechanisms to attract and recruit the right people into our workforce more effectively, while maintaining the integrity of our recruitment processes.

The employer proposal also includes improvements to Higher Duty Allowance (HDA) provisions to support operational flexibility. These changes recognise the important contribution of employees who step up to take on higher duties or additional responsibilities, while ensuring arrangements continue to meet operational needs and reward your efforts appropriately.

Additionally, the parties have been participating in drafting new clauses aimed at improving conditions, addressing operational needs and enhancing our ability to attract and retain employees across the workforce.

Proposed new clauses include:

  • General Fire Fighting, Track Station and Day Command allowance’s
    • Improvements to clauses to reflect to the interaction of allowances when moving between commands and eligibility for the relevant allowances.
  • Diversity and inclusion
    • A formal commitment to creating a workplace that values the skills and contributions of people from diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities, seniors, women and those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
  • Right to disconnect
    • New provisions ensuring the right to disconnect to support work-life balance.
  • Community engagement and donor leave
    • Enhanced leave provisions for voluntary emergency management activities.
    • Blood Donor Leave expanded to include plasma donation.
  • Fair Work Act compliance
    • Update clauses to reflect recent changes to the Act including, Union Rights, Management of Change, Dispute Settling Procedures and Individual Flexibility Arrangements.

We value your ongoing feedback and engagement throughout these negotiations. Your insights continue to help shape an Agreement that supports both our workforce and the delivery of high-quality emergency and rescue services to the people of the Northern Territory.

Have your say - your feedback is important

Should you wish to provide feedback during this process, you can do so by emailing enquiries.ocpe@nt.gov.au.

More information

Regular updates in relation to the bargaining process will be posted to the this website.

Information on bargaining in general can be obtained on the Fair Work Commission website or you can call their information line on 1300 799 675.

See link for information on the Northern Territory Public Sector Bargaining Policy 2025-2028.

Nicole Hurwood
Commissioner for Public Employment
17 October 2025