The political stupidity of the ABC cuts | The Monthly

The political stupidity of the ABC cuts | The Monthly

From the piece.... "But the most humiliating thing about the campaign to cut public broadcasting, for all of us, is that all of the pain caused, all this traumatic upheaval, all this stupidity and lost political capital is the result of an ineptitude that could be exposed in a single short message on Twitter (@mmccwill): “Politics, apparently, should be understood in context: $254million cut from ABC. Extra $245million found in May budget for school chaplains.”

terrible! shame!

Fear and paranoia in Camp Abbott - The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Fear and paranoia in Camp Abbott - The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Mungo tells us something about the Abbott Govt...
Very interesting!

Click on the pic for more detail....
So the NSW Minister for Emergency Services has made a gesture? He knows that he is bleeding over this and that this issue will cost him votes. This is nothing more than an admission that they got it VERY WRONG!!!!

Those that understand that the service is still around 450 down on actual numbers compared to the figures in 2012..... What a JOKE!!!

To let this Joker know that he has got  it wrong again, when you vote in March 2015 - please put the Liberals last!

ICAC News

Tweets about "#icac"

Removal of 16 Fire Fighters from Holmesville Fire Station promoted as INCREASE by NSW Govt & FRNSW

Q: When is a reduction in services "not" a reduction in services?
A: When you believe pure spin....

This is a piece of classic spin and diversion..... all the redevelopments listed in this story were already slated prior to the attack on the Holmesville community.http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1683670/more-firefighters-for-lower-hunter/?cs=305

MORE FIREFIGHTERS? Sorry I'll just check the maths...... X -12 + 12 - 16 = -16

You see the X is the pre Holmesville transfer staffing in the region and the 12 that went to Holmesville came from other stations, not new positions as I understand [happy to be corrected on that] and when you take 12 and transfer them that is not an increase. So now that we drop Holmesville staffing by 16 and use them to fill vacancies there is no net gain in Fire Fighter staffing, In fact the effect is a reduction in numbers across the board. The reduction is 16.....

Lets look at the initial move of the 12 and what it meant for Holmesville.....
FRNSW puffed out its chest and spruiked the transfer of 12 firefighters from other stations as an increase. "The additional firefighters will provide faster round-the-clock protection for local communities" they said.

What does Mr Mullins say? I hear you ask..... well,

This is from the FRNSW web site "NSWFB Commissioner Greg Mullins welcomed the arrival of full time firefighters at Holmesville Station and said it represented a major boost for the NSWFB and the community alike. "Since being officially opened on the 12 May, Holmesville Station has already responded to 35 emergency calls." 

Mr Mullins said. "The arrival of full-time firefighters at Holmesville will ensure that the NSWFB can maintain the high level of service and rapid response times the community expects. "It also means that firefighters will have greater capacity to participate in fire prevention and community safety work, which is vital to ensuring that communities can prevent and prepare for emergencies."

So what of the placement of these firefighters and the services that they provide to the folks of Holmesville and surrounds? Is that all to be disregarded now? If it was needed then isn't needed now? You see this 

You see what has been done is a sham. Will these 16 Fire Fighters all be used exclusively in the Lower Hunter? ... Only if there are travel restrictions place on these individuals. Current practice if for "relievers" to travel as far as 160 Km or more away from the station to which they are attached.

So now we have.....
1. No additional Firefighters
2. No major boost for any community.
3. No major boost for NSWFB.
4. The removal of full-time firefighters at Holmesville will ensure that the NSWFB can no longer maintain the high level of service.
5. The removal of full-time firefighters at Holmesville will mean that firefighters will have LESSER capacity to participate in fire prevention and community safety work, which would have been vital to ensuring that communities can prevent and prepare for emergencies."

As I said in another post Shame now falls on the shoulders of FRNSW and The NSW Government.

The Cost of Life

Last night I was in attendance at the NSW Government Community Cabinet. I was fortunate enough to be the second attendee to get the opportunity to ask a question. I asked Mr Gallacher, The Minister For Police and Emergency Services to tell us what he would say to the family of fire victims that perished in fires, where the closest Fire Station was closed. He declined to answer that question twice.

Instead he referred to Fire Fighter sick leave and overtime "blow-outs" he hid behind the head of Fire & Rescue NSW by stating that the decisions was that of Fire Commissioner Greg Mullins. As a fire Fighter with 30 years service and as a member of my local Union Committee I can tell you that this policy it most definitely dangerous.

Mr Gallacher says the Mr Mullins assures him that the policy of closing fire stations places the community in no extra risk. I suggested that for as little a couple of hundred dollars these stations could be kept open.... A closed fire station cannot offer the same protection as an open fire station, is that a difficult concept to grasp?

Mr Gallacher accused me of fudging figures "You know it's more than a couple of hundred dollars" said he. - Well actually Mr Gallacher a fire fighter on overtime is currently paid $234.43 before tax for their time when recalled to duty for a period of 4 hrs. [Yes there are times when Fire Fighters are called in for 8 or 10 hours as well] However, you see... the scenario as I described it, is entirely possible, some would say inevitable and all for the sake of $243.43

An interesting look at the effect of station closures in England

An interesting look at the effect of station closures in England.... Note that there is mention of the fact that "When looking at the results I found it striking how close some of the stations are to each other, with no station more than 2km from another"

The link: http://pootlingaround.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/fire-station-closures.html

NSW LNP Promises for the Central Coast

Here is a list of promises made prior to the last State Election made by our now sitting LNP members. This list comes from the following website: http://centralcoast.businessinsider.net.au/stories/government/the-coalition-romps-it-in-for-the-central-coast

Gosford - Chris Holstein (Liberal Party gain from ALP)

“All local members must be held accountable for delivering on their promises or at least having a definitive course of action mapped out for longer term deliverables.” (Chris Holstein)

1. Reduce red tape by 20% for small business by the end of the 1st term
2. Reduce fees & charges to encourage small businesses to grow
3. Improve education & mentoring programs for prospective new business owners
4. Encourage businesses to relocate to the Central Coast & promote decentralisation
5. Create a Central Coast Health District with its own local board
6. Ensure Gosford electorate receives sufficient funding for roads & public transport
7. Reopen Umina Police Station & fight to break the graffiti cycle by imposing harsher penalties for offenders.

Terrigal - Chris Hartcher (Liberal Party retain)

“What Jeff Kennett did in Victoria, we (the Coalition) intend to do in NSW.” (Chris Hartcher)

1. Restart the NSW Economy in line with Victoria’s growth
2. 100,000 new jobs state-wide (40% earmarked for regional NSW) through payroll tax concessions - applies to a number of Central Coast companies
3. Fix the Terrigal Drive gridlock ($5M funding has been secured for the engineering plan for the upgrade)
4. Continue next stages of upgrades to the Central Coast Hwy & Avoca Drive
5. Lobby the Federal Government to commit to a fast rail service
6. Pursue trade & investment opportunities between the Central Coast & the Middle East
7. Support the development of a Technology Park on the Coast (likely to be announced soon)
8. $250,000 grant approved for a training & admin site for the Central Coast Bears
9. Actively work with Central Coast Tourism to ensure we sell ourselves better
10. Adopt a tri partite approach to address climate change issues.

Wyong - Darren Webber (Liberal Party gain from ALP)

“I know I will be closely scrutinised by my electorate and this is how my actions will be measured. I give my personal commitment to continue to get out into the community.” (Darren Webber)

1. Reduce red tape by 20% for small business by the end of the 1st term
2. Fast track the $8M upgrade to Wyong Road to ease traffic congestion
3. Deliver a hard budget allocation for the Warnervale Town Centre development
4. Be part of the Liberal’s plan to create 100,000 new jobs (state-wide) through payroll tax cuts
5. Work to resolve Wyong electorate’s unemployment, graffiti and crime problems
6. Establish a 1300 number to report graffiti, allowing it to be quickly cleaned up
7. Increase the number of police manning local stations and ‘on the beat’
8. Help educate small business owners on energy saving initiatives
9. Continue to actively engage with people within the electorate.

The Entrance - Chris Spence (Liberal Party gain from ALP)

“The measure of my accountability will be to deliver my promises by the end of the 4 year term. If I don’t, I won’t be re-elected. It’s as simple as that.” (Chris Spence)

1. Fast-track the $8M upgrade to Wyong Road to ease traffic congestion
2. Introduce new bus services
3. Fix the Entrance Channel
4. Encourage new & responsible redevelopments with the electorate
5. Support the decentralisation of more public service departments to our region
6. Support the Central Coast Bears NRL bid
7. Reduce crime & anti-social behaviour within the electorate by imposing harsher penalties to graffiti offenders & conducting an audit of the police presence
8. Encourage local businesses to commit to the renewable energy buy-back scheme & support a gross feed-in tariff
9. Be open & accountable for all actions.

I'll leave it up to you to decide their success or lack of success in following through...... 

Mr Hockey .... Weasel Words

You stop short of guaranteeing that you will implement the increase in a timely fashion. "we remain committed to not rescinding the increase" These are weasel words. Will you make a definitive statement and stand behind it? Will you implement the increase as it is proposed currently by the Gillard Government? Or will you make changes?

OK I have read this, but I still cannot believe what my eyes show me.... Can this be true? http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/privatised-fire-and-rescue-services-secret-1593277#.URRKeQHwtts.facebook

Just when you think it could not be any worse!!

The "GOOD OLD DAYS"

Just in case you are thinking how nice and simple it was under a LNP Fed Government.... take some time to see if you remember these points...... From John Howards' scrapbook.

* Minister Jim Short was forced to resign for failing to divest himself of financial interests in his area of ministerial responsibility.

* Industry minister John Moore was exposed for his shareholdings in technology investment and share-trading companies.

* Parliamentary secretary Brian Gibson lost his job because of a conflict of interest.

* Small business minister Geoff Prosser was running three shopping centres while he was a Minister and he was forced to resign. (Geoff Prosser resigned in July 1997 following the disclosure that he was a shopping centre landlord while he was responsible for commercial tenancy provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1975).

* Resources minister Warwick Parer had massive share interests in a coalmine and in other resource companies; he stayed, in breach of the Ministerial Code.

* Acting Minister for Communications Peter McGauran forgot that he owned 70 poker machines.

* Employment Services Minister Mal Brough promoted training courses which were actually Liberal Party fundraisers.

* Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane was involved in a complex scam to rort GST rebates from Liberal Party fundraisers.

* Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Herron kept up his practice as a surgeon, in breach of the code.

Mr Howard himself was found to be in breach of his own code when he failed to resign as a director of the Menzies Research Centre.

Mr Howard misled the Parliament over meetings he had held with ethanol producer Manildra’s boss – massive Liberal Party donor Dick Honan. It was eventually proved that the meetings did occur, and three weeks later the Government increased trade penalties against a Brazilian ethanol producer.

Not enough to turn you away from Tony Abbott? Have a look at the full article.

http://theaimn.com/2013/02/03/howards-golden-years/

CCCUA Ready to Launch

Have a look at this!!! CCCUA is going into Launch Mode!!! 

Please come along if you can...

http://www.cccua.org.au/

rgriffith@unionsnsw.org.au

Why can't we in NSW, as a Fire Service meet these Guarantees given in the early 1990's?

• Within towns and cities that form fire districts ..... give you help 90% of the time within 8 minutes ... In remote areas ..... we guarantee that help will be provided as fast as humanly possible in order to save life and property.
• The time frame now apparently is 10 minutes.... what do you think may be happening in the 9th minute and the 10th minute if your house was burning down?
• Remember that this is an average time.... how much extra time do you think it might take at the longer end of the scale  to move the average out to 10 minutes?
• Averages don't mean much to you if you have lost your home, if you have lost your business or if you have lost a family member......

Where are we heading from here do we reduce our services until we need insurance companies to set up their own brigades again? People expect services from their elected officials.... 

why are our elected officials letting us down? This is 20 years ago folks!

If you think we deserve better in NSW please sign the petition... 

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-our-fire-stations-open.html

Appeal to Sweet Brown

@TeamSweetBrown Hi team!!! The Sweet Brown phenomenon is sweeping Australia at the moment. I am a Fire Fighter with 30 yrs service in New South Wales, Australia. I have promised my Station Officer a beer if he can slip "Oh lord Jesus it's a fire" into a radio message at some stage! It hasn't happened yet!

Sweet, can I let you in on a problem that we have in New South Wales at the moment? Our government is hell bent reducing funds to Fire Fighters. One branch of our fire fighting industry has been affected by looming redundancies [up to 120 sackings effectively] and the other branch is suffering on-going Station Closures. That's right Fire Stations are routinely being closed. My son Cameron started a petition and there is some more background info there. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-our-fire-stations-open.html

Let me bring it home to you Sweet.... If your local station had been closed it may have taken the next closest [open] station between 8 to 15 minutes LONGER to arrive and start to put out that fire.... Imagine the consequences then...

Would you be please approachable about a possible youtube statement regarding this dire situation?

I want to reverse the govt decision because I don't want someone to die, just so that the Fire Brigade can save $700.00

Have a great day, I'm just going to get myself a cold pop! 

I likened the NSW govt policy [of allowing the Fire Commissioner to close stations due to budgetary restraints] to a drunken casino patron rolling the dice ... without a care.

Recently a car fire in Maroubra threatened the safety of our public. Maroubra fire station was closed at the time. The next roll of the dice may result in a pre-school fire or a house fire. There is no saying that the next roll won't be a chemical incident. 

Mr O'Farrell you are putting our lives in unnecessary risk. Please insist that our Fire Brigades protect LIFE and PROPERTY to the best of their ability.

Contact Details for NSW Mermbers of Parliament

Here is a list of contact details for OUR NSW State Members of Parliament. Ya gotta love 'em! If you have an issue in your area these are the folks to contact. Listed here by :- ELECTORATE Name of STATE MP / EMAIL / Phone / FAX

Albury
Mr Greg Aplin albury@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6021 3042 (02) 6021 8884

Auburn
The Hon. Barbara Perry auburn@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9644 6972 (02) 9644 8290

Ballina
The Hon. Donald Page ballina@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 3403 (02) 6686 7470

Balmain
Mr Jamie Parker balmain@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9660 7586 (02) 9660 6112

Bankstown
Ms Tania Mihailuk bankstown@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9708 3838 (02) 9708 3960

Barwon
The Hon. Kevin Humphries barwon@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5248 (02) 6752 6102

Bathurst
Mr Paul Toole paul.toole@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6332 1300 (02) 6331 1566

Baulkham Hills
Mr David Elliott baulkhamhills@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9686 3110 (02) 9686 3212

Bega
The Hon. Andrew Constance bega@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5263 (02) 6492 3578

Blacktown
Mr John Robertson blacktown@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9671 5222 (02) 9671 5266

Blue Mountains
Mrs Roza Sage bluemountains@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4751 3298 (02) 4751 1245

Burrinjuck
The Hon. Katrina Hodgkinson burrinjuck@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5210 (02) 6226 3345

Cabramatta
Mr Nick Lalich cabramatta@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9724 3381 (02) 9724 6056

Camden
Mr Chris Patterson camden@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4655 3333 (02) 4655 3325

Campbelltown
Mr Bryan Doyle campbelltown@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4625 3344 (02) 4626 3640

Canterbury
The Hon. Linda Burney linda.burney@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9718 1234 (02) 9787 1999

Castle Hill
Mr Dominic Perrottet castlehill@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9634 7474 (02) 9899 3340

Cessnock
Mr Clayton Barr cessnock@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4991 1466 (02) 4991 1103

Charlestown
Mr Andrew Cornwell charlestown@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4942 1242 (02) 4942 1060

Clarence
Mr Christopher Gulaptis clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6643 1244 (02) 6642 7574

Coffs Harbour
Mr Andrew Fraser coffsharbour@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6652 6500 (02) 6652 7934

Coogee
Mr Bruce Notley-Smith coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9389 6669 (02) 9387 8845

Cronulla
Mr Mark Speakman cronulla@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9526 8377 (02) 9526 8928

Davidson
Mr Jonathan O'Dea davidson@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9880 7400 (02) 9880 7488

Drummoyne
Mr John Sidoti drummoyne@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9713 2999 (02) 9713 2911

Dubbo
Mr Troy Grant dubbo@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6882 3577 (02) 6882 3689

East Hills
Mr Glenn Brookes easthills@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9772 2774 (02) 9792 1718

Epping
The Hon. Greg Smith epping@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5246 (02) 9877 0405

Fairfield
Mr Guy Zangari fairfield@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9726 9323 (02) 9726 9783

Gosford
Mr Chris Holstein gosford@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4342 4122 (02) 4341 2368

Goulburn
The Hon. Pru Goward goulburn@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5413 (02) 4861 3546

Granville
Mr Tony Issa granville@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9637 1656 (02) 9897 1434

Hawkesbury
Mr Ray Williams hawkesbury@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 8882 9555 (02) 8882 9411

Heathcote
Mr Lee Evans heathcote@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9548 0144 (02) 9548 5639

Heffron
Mr Ron Hoenig heffron@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9699 8166 (02) 9699 8222

Hornsby Mr Matt Kean hornsby@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9476 3411 (02) 9476 2965

Keira
Mr Ryan Park keira@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4285 1588 (02) 4285 1858

Kiama
Mr Gareth Ward kiama@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4232 1082 (02) 4232 3577

Kogarah
Ms Cherie Burton kogarah@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9587 9684 (02) 9588 7138

Ku-ring-gai
The Hon. Barry O'Farrell kuringgai@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5239 (02) 9487 8550

Lake Macquarie
Mr Greg Piper lakemacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4959 3200 (02) 4950 4076

Lakemba
Mr Robert Furolo lakemba@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9759 5000 (02) 9759 1945

Lane Cove
The Hon. Anthony Roberts lanecove@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5276 (02) 9817 5885

Lismore
The Hon. Thomas George lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6621 3624 (02) 6622 1403

Liverpool
The Hon. Paul Lynch ElectorateOffice.Liverpool@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9602 0040 (02) 9821 1807

Londonderry
Mr Bart Bassett londonderry@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9833 1122 (02) 9623 1185

Macquarie Fields
Dr Andrew McDonald macquariefields@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9608 8991 (02) 9608 0606

Maitland
The Hon. Robyn Parker Robyn.Parker@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5253 (02) 4933 4782

Manly
The Hon. Mike Baird manly@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5274 (02) 9976 2993

Maroubra
Mr Michael Daley maroubra@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9349 6440 (02) 9349 4594

Marrickville
The Hon. Carmel Tebbutt marrickville@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9572 5900 (02) 9558 3653

Menai
Ms Melanie Gibbons menai@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9825 3653 (02) 9825 4861

Miranda
The Hon. Graham Annesley miranda@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5259 (02) 9540 2517

Monaro
Mr John Barilaro monaro@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6299 4899 (02) 6297 9998

Mount Druitt
The Hon. Richard Amery mountdruitt@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9625 6770 (02) 9625 9965

Mulgoa
Mrs Tanya Davies mulgoa@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9833 2913 (02) 9833 4063

Murray-Darling
Mr John Williams murraydarling@parliament.nsw.gov.au (08) 8087 3315 (08) 8087 1796

Murrumbidgee
The Hon. Adrian Piccoli murrumbidgee@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5261 (02) 6962 7725

Myall Lakes
Mr Stephen Bromhead myalllakes@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6555 4099 (02) 6555 4780

Newcastle
Mr Tim Owen newcastle@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4926 1126 (02) 4926 2134

North Shore
The Hon. Jillian Skinner northshore@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5229 (02) 9909 2654

Northern Tablelands
The Hon. Richard Torbay northerntablelands@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6772 5552 (02) 6772 5026

Oatley
Mr Mark Coure oatley@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9580 9349 (02) 9580 9103

Orange
Mr Andrew Gee orange@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6362 5199 (02) 6361 3922

Oxley
The Hon. Andrew Stoner oxley@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5209 (02) 6563 1355

Parramatta
Dr Geoff Lee parramatta@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9891 4722 (02) 9891 5618

Penrith
Mr Stuart Ayres penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4722 8660 (02) 4731 4782

Pittwater
Mr Rob Stokes pittwater@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9999 3599 (02) 9999 0922

Port Macquarie
Mrs Leslie Williams portmacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6584 0977 (02) 6584 0978

Port Stephens
Mr Craig Baumann portstephens@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4987 4455 (02) 4987 4466

Riverstone
Mr Kevin Conolly riverstone@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 8883 3499 (02) 8883 3355

Rockdale
Mr John Flowers rockdale@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9597 1414 (02) 9567 0508

Ryde
The Hon. Victor Dominello ryde@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 4333 (02) 9877 6222

Shellharbour
Ms Anna Watson shellharbour@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4297 3111 (02) 4297 3144

Smithfield
Mr Andrew Rohan smithfield@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9756 4766 (02) 9756 1544

South Coast
The Hon. Shelley Hancock southcoast@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4421 0222 (02) 4422 1180

Strathfield
Mr Charles Casuscelli strathfield@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9747 1711 (02) 9747 6054

Swansea
Mr Garry Edwards swansea@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4972 1133 (02) 4972 1494

Sydney
Mr Alex Greenwich sydney@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9360 3053 (02) 9331 6963

Tamworth
Mr Kevin Anderson tamworth@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6766 1422 (02) 6766 6765

Terrigal
The Hon. Chris Hartcher terrigal@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5289 (02) 4365 4768

The Entrance
Mr Chris Spence TheEntrance@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4334 1012 (02) 4334 3840

Toongabbie
The Hon. Nathan Rees toongabbie@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9831 8022 (02) 9831 8044

Tweed
Mr Geoff Provest tweed@parliament.nsw.gov.au (07) 5523 4816 (07) 5523 4817

Upper Hunter
The Hon. George Souris upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5218 (02) 6543 1416

Vaucluse
Ms Gabrielle Upton vaucluse@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9326 1856 (02) 9389 8050

Wagga Wagga
Mr Daryl Maguire waggawagga@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 6921 1622 (02) 6921 4424

Wakehurst
The Hon. Brad Hazzard wakehurst@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5258 (02) 9981 5059

Wallsend
Ms Sonia Hornery wallsend@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4950 0955 (02) 4950 0977

Willoughby
The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian willoughby@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 9228 5266 (02) 9439 9299

Wollondilly
Mr Jai Rowell wollondilly@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4683 2622 (02) 4683 2595

Wollongong
Ms Noreen Hay wollongong@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4226 5700 (02) 4226 9963

Wyong
Mr Darren Webber wyong@parliament.nsw.gov.au (02) 4352 2711 (02) 4397 1012

Open Letter Re: Fire Station Closures

I recently sent this OPEN LETTER to the listed recipients. Guess what NO ANSWERS so far. It has been 10 days since the 27/12/12 when the letter was sent. Should it take this long to get a reply? Open letter to Mr Michael Gallacher MP NSW & Mr Greg Mullins AFSM Commissioner FRNSW Mr Gallacher, I am concerned that the policy of closing NSW Fire Stations will end up in the death of some innocent person. Even the Commissioner Mr Mullins understands that if you live close to a fire station that is closed that you are in a situation where you are at greater risk { I refer to a webcast that Mr Mullins recently published } . We are in a position currently [excluding the practice of toling] where our capability is matched to the risk in Sydney. The stations that are seen a superfluous actually provide "Surge Capacity". I am sure that you understand that concept. Toling has been underway outside of Sydney for quite sometime, it needs to end throughout NSW ASAP. I have a colleague that has been chastised for making public the fact that our counter terrorist capability is reduced by the act of toling. I am struggling with the idea that it's OK to reduce our counter terrorism capacity, but it's not OK to let the public know that they are at risk......... I [as you may imagine] talk with plenty of voters [from all political persuasions] about this situation, I can tell you that I have not yet come across anyone that can see the benefit in reducing the capacity of our fine service. There is a furphy getting around about locations of fire stations and response times of horse driven fire appliances and locating fire station on hilltops. To put it simply if the fire risk was the same as it was then and if the role of the Fire Brigade was the same as it was when we had to tend to horses as part of our role.... then that argument would be acceptable... I have been in the Fire Brigade for almost 30 years now and you know that this length of service is NOT uncommon. I have never met an active firefighter that has turned out to a fire call behind a horse. So let's just put that furphy where it belongs.. in the round file. Here is a link to a petition ... maybe you have seen it? http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-our-fire-stations-open.html

So .... now we can read old newspapers on the web !!!! COOL!!! http://news.google.com/newspapers

Dark Day For FRNSW aka New South Wales Fire Brigade

Tonight fire engines from MacQuarie Fields, Kogarah, Hurstville, Pyrmont, Riverwood Miranda & Mascot have been withdrawn from service due to budgetary decisions. The Commisioner Mr Mullins has put up an explanation of the decision on youtube and it's also on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/220694521275359/520405837970891/?ref=notif¬if_t=group_activity. This is a disgrace and the people that are responsible should hang their heads in shame ... Jeff Sundstrom FBEU

Keep Our Fire Stations OPEN

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Latest INFO re: CLOSURE OF FIRE STATIONS

PLEASE NOTE : “TOLing” means temporarily CLOSING Fire Stations for entire shifts or longer indeterminate periods.

Inside this issue:

·        TOLing: the Empire strikes back?

·        TOLing: so what is the Union doing?

·        Standing Union advice regarding outduties, stand-bys and safe and effective minimum staffing

·        FBEU fined $11,000 for LSV dispute

·        Easter Sunday public holiday dispute update

TOLing: the Empire strikes back?

The Union’s officials have spent the past fortnight since the last edition of SITREP considering our response to the funding crisis in FRNSW caused by the O’Farrell Government’s budget cuts.

The situation, in short, is this:

·        O’Farrell has ordered that FRNSW management cut employee-related costs by $25M per annum;

·        The only way this can be achieved is by cutting overtime, wages, conditions and/or jobs;

·        The savings required exceed the entire FRNSW overtime bill, so even the complete elimination of all overtime (an impossible goal) would still not be enough to avoid job cuts.

Management’s answer

The Department has developed a number of strategies to respond to this crisis, the centrepiece being to extend TOLing (Taking stations Off Line) from the 30 so retained brigades listed in In Orders 2008/22 to any station in the state – retained or permanent. And contrary to Commissioner Mullins’ repeated and very public assurances, the Department has also jettisoned safe and effective minimum staffing of four by preparing to order crews of only two to respond on pumping appliances. Stand by for bag-loads of management spin about safe crewing levels being needed on the fireground, but not on a truck.

But bad as all this is, it will at least save jobs right? Wrong. Unless the Government changes course then even these radical measures will not prevent firefighter job cuts by 2015. Who in NSW voted for that?

And the Union’s response

Commissioner Mullins has urged us to work with him “to avoid the prospect of workforce reductions”. While we’re prepared to consider different ways of doing things, the Union’s officials have already ruled out cutting existing award wages or conditions. This leaves a reduction in overtime as the only option left before jobs cuts.

The Union supported a reduction of overtime via extra permanent and retained firefighter jobs and a reduction in firefighters’ sick leave before this budget crisis hit. We will continue to do so. The Union also opposed the introduction of TOLing of retained brigades in 2008 and will continue to do so.

Commissioner Mullins argues that we need to commence TOLing permanent stations to avoid forced job losses. The Union’s officials have no reason to believe that Mr Mullins is being anything other than sincere on this point. We also believe that he is dead set wrong. Once started, where does TOLing stop? Does anyone seriously believe that the Department will continue to run with 630 permanent relieving staff when it can simply close a station instead? TOLing is not the answer – it is the start of a race to the bottom and a guarantee of more job cuts, not less.

All of this is explained in considerably more detail in the correspondence from the Department  and theUnion’s response.

TOLing: so what is the Union doing?

The Union’s officials have developed a number of responses to O’Farrell’s attack on firefighters, much of which will not (for obvious reasons) be detailed here. As confirmed in the previous item, the State Committee is flatly opposed to any extension of TOLing or reduction of safe and effective minimum staffing levels. In the short term:

·        the Union has notified the Industrial Relations Commission of a dispute, with the matter listed before Justice Backman this coming Monday at 0930 hrs;

·        I will be meeting the Minister next Thursday, 2 August and have requested that no action be taken by FRNSW in the interim; and

·        the Union has written to the Department inviting further discussion over a series of possible cost saving initiatives.

Preparations are well advanced in the event that the Department does commence TOLing and separate Union notices and instructions will be issued to members if and when required. More to follow…

Standing Union advice regarding outduties, stand-bys and safe and effective minimum staffing

Members are reminded that the following, well established arrangements remain in place and should continue to be observed, irrespective of any direction or order to the contrary from FRNSW management, until advised otherwise by way of further Union notice:

1. No retained pumper is to respond or remain on-line unless it is known that at least four retained firefighters from the station are available to answer the call (see FRNSW Standing Orders“Retained firefighter response coverage and crewing levels”).
2. No permanent pumper is to respond or remain on-line without at least one Station Officer and three firefighters (permanent or retained) present on the appliance.
3. Only permanent firefighters (ie, LF rank and below) can perform outduties or stand-by duties;
4. No firefighter may be directed to use their own vehicle, and the Department must provide return transport for any permanent firefighter who is directed to perform an outduty or stand-by duty without prior notice (see Permanent Award subclause 12.12). To avoid doubt:

(a)     the term “prior notice” means prior to the conclusion of your last rostered shift; and

(b)     nothing in this advice should be taken to mean that a member must either request that the Department provide transport, or that they may not choose to use their own vehicle.

1. Station Officers cannot be directed (or choose) to perform outduties or stand-by duties without breaching the Award.
2. An officer (Inspector or above) who orders another officer (Station Officer or above) to perform an out-duty or stand-by duty is (a) issuing an unlawful order and (b) exposed to disciplinary charges for breach of Regulation 17(c) – “A firefighter must not abuse the firefighter’s authority by acting oppressively towards a subordinate”.

 FBEU fined $11,000 for LSV Dispute

 The Industrial Court has fined the Union $11,000 for last October’s LSV dispute industrial action (see SITREP 42/2011, 46/2011 and 9/2012).

Dispute orders were made by the IRC during the LSV/injured firefighters dispute after the Department walked away from our LSV staffing agreement and the Union then responded with relieving bans. The prosecution proceeded despite the fact that the Department eventually did agree to observe our agreement, but the day after the dispute orders were made and with our bans still in place.

The Department sought the current maximum penalty for the contraventions ($10,000 for the first day, and $5,000 for the second day). Justice Boland instead ordered a fine of $7,500 for the first day, and $3,500 for the second day. Whilst the Union is obviously disappointed that any fines were imposed, Justice Boland did make these observations with regard to the behaviour of the Department:

“However, in his letter to Mr Casey late on 21 October 2011 (and after Ritchie C had made the dispute orders) Commissioner Mullins agreed to observe the “status quo”, which he belatedly said was “essentially the same as the 2010 arrangements”. It is apparent that the applicant’s position outlined in the Commissioner’s letter of 21 October 2011 could have been put to the FBEU at an earlier time and any bans could have been entirely avoided.” (Para 32)

“Another mitigating factor is the applicant declining to acknowledge there was any agreement of the nature claimed by the FBEU, only to accept on 22 October that it would accept a status quo that was essentially the same as the 2010 arrangements.” (Para 43)

Small wonder they’ve got no money. This was (yet another) totally unnecessary dispute which cost the Department, according to its own evidence, almost $200K only to end up agreeing to observe the LSV staffing agreement anyway. Here is the link to the full judgment.

Easter Sunday public holiday dispute update

Further to SITREP 25/2012 wherein we reported on our Easter Sunday public holiday dispute win, the Department has now advised that the additional consolidated leave for those members who worked on Easter Sunday 2011 or 2012 was expected to be credited by the end of this week.

Permanent members of Inspector rank or below should now check their consolidated leave balances to ensure that they have now been adjusted as follows:

For those who worked on Easter Sunday 2011 (24 April):

·        A Platoon = 6 hours consolidated leave (1800 to 2400 hours);

·        B Platoon = 8 hours consolidated leave (0001 to 0800 hours);

·        D Platoon = 10 hours consolidated leave (0800 to 1800 hours) and

·        E Platoon = 12 hours consolidated leave (0600 to 1800 hours).

For those who worked on Easter Sunday 2012 (8 April):

·        A Platoon = 10 hours consolidated leave (0800 to 1800 hours);

·        B Platoon = 6 hours consolidated leave (1800 to 2400 hours);

·        C Platoon = 8 hours consolidated leave (0001 to 0800 hours) and

·        E Platoon = 12 hours consolidated leave (0600 to 1800 hours).