3 October 2006

Volunteer Canberra firies boycott fire season launch

| johnboy
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The Canberra Times and the ABC both have stories on agro between the Government and the volunteer firefighters over plans to consolidate moneys gathered by the volunteer’s fundraising efforts.

From the CT:

“The changes affect eight volunteer fire brigades and six volunteer SES units, whose captains met at the weekend and decided, in response, they would provide only essential core services. Their strongest objections are the increased bureaucratic red tape the new system will produce, and the implication that they cannot manage their own finances.”

The ABC has Minister somewhat responsible, Simon Corbell, complaining that once again he’s been misunderstood.

“Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell says the proposal has not been finalised and he is willing to talk to volunteers about their concerns.”

In the meantime the volunteers have instituted a work to rule which includes not turning up to public functions, such as today’s launch of the fire season.

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“Apparently Corbell has recently stated that the new communications system works perfectly.”

Except for the fact that it doesn’t work. They’re back to using the same VHF system they’ve been using for years. Why? Because the new radios have shit-all range out of urban areas.

“Today’s dumb comment award goes to Snahon. Would you rather they refused to work altogether? “

I’ll gladly accept the award – do I get a turkey or something ?

But seriously, I was in no way implying that the firies should go on strike. I was merely commenting on the tactic itself, not the context in which it has been applied nor the implications of its application in this scenario.

Isn’t “implication that they cannot manage their own finances” a bit hypocritaical coming from the ACT Govt? We’ve seen how well they look after finances… and now we are feeling it in our hip-pockets. Oh, and of course, hide any evidence of their ‘work’ (‘Costello Report’ anyone?)…

Lets just hope the next big fire is arson so the firies are actually allowed to go put it out.

simon says be prepared. and one would want to be, as with the world class planning we have imposed upon us by the gummint here, its every being for themselves.
hang on….isn’t that what the volunteer firerys were doing?

Today’s dumb comment award goes to Snahon. Would you rather they refused to work altogether?

Sounds like it’s his turn to put fires out…give him a hard hat & hose. And tell him where to put ’em.

Simon must be off the medication again?

Simon loves to front up to groups and talk to them about their concerns.
Then he does whatever he wanted to do to begin with.
Andrew Barr seems to have taken on this model as well.

Ahh the good ol’ work to rule philosophy.
Gotta love the inventor of this little tactic.

socialists like to keep a tight rein on control.

cant have independent sources of finance can we.

turf these ideologues out.

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