Marine Rescue Queensland
{{Short description|Marine rescue service in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Marine Rescue Queensland
| type = department
| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_caption =
| logo_alt =
| formed = {{Start date|2024|07|01|df=y}}
| preceding1 = Australian Volunteer Coast Guard
| preceding2 = Volunteer Marine Rescue
| dissolved =
| agency_type = marine rescue
| jurisdiction = Queensland
| status =
| headquarters =
| motto = rescue ready
| employees =
| budget = {{currency|27|AUD}}M {{small|(2024)}}{{cite web |title=Bills to shape new era of disaster and emergency services for Queensland |url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99249 |website=The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory |access-date=18 February 2024}}
| minister1_name = Dan Purdie
| minister1_pfo = Minister for Police and Community Safety
| chief1_name = Tony Wulff
| chief1_position = Chief Officer
| parent_department = Queensland Police Service
| keydocument1 = Marine Rescue Queensland Bill 2023{{cite web |title=Marine Rescue Queensland Bill 2023 |url=https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/bill.first/bill-2023-050#sec.24 |website=legislation.qld.gov.au |access-date=18 February 2024}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.mrq.qld.gov.au/}}
}}
Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) is the primary provider of marine rescue in the state of Queensland.
History
In October 2022, following a review by State Disaster Co-ordinator Steve Gollschewski, it was announced that the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services would be dissolved in June 2024, resulting in the largest reform of emergency services in Queensland since 1990. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service along with the Rural Fire Service would form the Queensland Fire Department, with a new central headquarters.{{cite web |title=QFES, SES To Split Up |url=https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2022/10/27/qfes-ses-to-split-up/ |website=southburnett.com.au |date=27 October 2022 |access-date=17 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=New Fire Department to call Albion home in 2025 |url=https://www.miragenews.com/new-fire-department-to-call-albion-home-in-2025-1173585/ |website=miragenews.com |access-date=17 February 2024}} On 1 July 2024 the Queensland State Emergency Service will be merged with the Queensland Police Service along with the Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Queensland, which itself is to be renamed Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) and therefore made part of the Queensland emergency services.{{cite web |title=Disaster and Emergency Services Reform |url=https://www.qld.gov.au/emergency/disaster-and-emergency-services-reform#:~:text=Bringing%20together%20Australian%20Volunteer%20Coast,in%20our%20oceans%20and%20waterways. |website=qld.gov.au |access-date=17 February 2024}}
Facilities
The formation of the MRQ would merge 27 Volunteer Marine Rescue{{cite web |title=VMR locations |url=http://marinerescueqld.org.au/locations/ |website=marinerescueqld.org.au |access-date=19 February 2024}} and 19 Australian Volunteer Coast Guard stations.{{cite web |title=AVCG locations |url=https://coastguard.com.au/locations/flotilla-locator/ |website=coastguard.com.au |access-date=19 February 2024}}
Emblem
The Marine Rescue Queensland badge was designed to recognise the history of both the former Volunteer Marine Rescue and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard.{{cite web |title=MARINE RESCUE QUEENSLAND (MRQ) VISUAL IDENTITY |url=https://app4.vision6.com.au/em/message/email/view?a=111223&id=1750168&k=9Y8Ib9fZ8TluWYtxrgrVwZRad9RgGGWgbOMFThL043o |website=Marine Rescue Implementation Program |access-date=18 February 2024}}
Leadership
| class="wikitable"
! Period ! Name ! Notes |
| colspan="7" align="center" style="background:white;" | Chief Officer, Marine Rescue Queensland |
| 19 February 2024–Present
|Tony Wulff |First ever appointed Chief Officer of the newly formed Maritime Rescue Queensland.{{cite web |title=Chief Officers announced for Queensland’s State Emergency Service (SES) and Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) |url=https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/rockhampton/2024/02/06/chief-officers-announced-for-queenslands-state-emergency-service-ses-and-marine-rescue-queensland-mrq/#:~:text=SES%20will%20transition%20away%20from,structure%20and%20associated%20support%20services. |website=QPS Media |access-date=17 February 2024}} |