IT has been announced that the federal government will give a maximum of $6000 to firefighters who apply. Eligible persons are those who are currently in the workforce or are self-employed. $300 per day is, on the surface, better than the $160 previously legislated.
The $160 applied to all volunteers including the retired volunteer in the Taree area who is aged over 70 and has been fighting fires for two months, most days. Calculating his entitlement on the old system, $160 x 10 is $1600 multiplied by say 50 days because he may not have worked every day. That is $8000. Do the unemployed volunteers who have been cut off Centrelink not count, and why are pensioners not eligible? They were previously, under the legislation that even John Howard honoured, although for this to be enacted a state of emergency needed to be declared.
From the front lines in the Blue Mountains, I hear that the main equipment fault is the breathing apparatus which I understand is ineffective except in very short-term use.
But please, let us all rejoice that the PM is keeping his promise to balance the budget. What other services got cut to allow this generous payment?
As always, thanks to the volunteers and their families.
Lyn Rendle, Rankin Park
WE ALL NEED TO BELONG
AFTER reading the story of David Cuneo in Monday's Newcastle Herald ('Move a compromise, not a promise fulfilled', Herald 30/12) it made me think about the human need to belong.
There would be few people in any community who do not belong to a club, sporting organisation, social group, church or family which sustains the need to be the social animals we are. In my observation there are more nursing homes and over-fifties villages being built and ageing people are encouraged to become part of those communities to give the residents a sense of security and belonging. Why, then, are we not doing the same for our people with a disability, who are used to being in a protected area with many other residents and carers?
Anyone who has ever visited the Stockton Centre will realise the size of the land there, both used and open space. There are several smaller cottages on this property that house about six clients, much like group homes. The land there could be developed into a small village similar to that of an over-fifties home except they would have the staff and services that are at present being displaced from Stockton.
Some will say it is a matter of money, but let me give you an example. Yesterday I spoke to a young man and his carer. I asked if he lived alone, and the career said he did but with 24-hour care. This means three eight-hour shifts,.paid for no doubt with his NDIS package. We all like to spend time with our peers and to relocate young people who have lived in the community for most of their lives and now have to readjust to changed conditions. Autistic clients find change abhorrent, and it can disrupt them for a long time.
Why, then, can't the powers that be see the social climate as it is, where every person has the need of the oldest human trait of belonging to a community? Why treat the less able in our community differently?
Diana Taaffe, Belmont North
COUNTING BACK THE YEARS
WENDY Atkins (Letters, 30/12) suggests that the climate scientists have been making predictions about climate change "for the last seven years." Climate scientists have been making predictions associated with climate change for over 30 years.
In 1985, Don McNair (after whom the Herbarium at the University of Newcastle is named) wrote "(The Herbarium) will be vital in recording environmental and plant changes, particularly in response to climate change."
In the late 1980s, Maggie Thatcher predicted that the world needed to consider the consequences of climate change, and take necessary action. So it is over 30 years, not the last seven years, that the Liberal-National Party have been in government that so many leaders and followers have been climate change deniers.
Wendy Davidson, Toronto
LENIENCY UNDERMINES LAW
I READ and was totally amazed by the article regarding jet skiiers in last Friday's paper ('Boxing Day boaties' blitz keeps lake calm', Herald 27/12). I thought it was obvious that this was an attempt for the inspector to become a hero of sorts but, in my view, she failed on that front quite badly. I believe she inadvertently sent a message to all the people who blatantly flaunt the law that you can do what you like on Lake Macquarie and get away with it.
The skiier concerned was apparently without registration and licence for over 10 months. Not only that, he was pictured with a pillion passenger riding on the craft, and escaped with only an official caution.
If we want safety on our waterways, then there should be no latitude in the rules set. The rules were devised by people who knew the dangers that can quickly unfold on the water. In my opinion we cannot allow this approach that those in breach just say sorry when caught as it sends a very bad message to others that are doing exactly the same right now.
Dennis Crampton, Redhead
A MISSION FOR EMISSIONS
IT appears that whatever government Australians elect, there will be no vast change to emission reductions as they stand at the moment.
Opposition parties that were once promising to set effective targets (as oppositions do) are now reconsidering their boldness and are likely to promise no worse than the status quo, as this is purportedly more palatable to voters. Otherwise, they will couch their promise in words that essentially means the same.
As emission reduction stands at the moment, there is concern they will not reach the 2030 target set by Australia as part of the Paris agreement. Our annual emissions are currently above anticipated reduction levels and recent bushfire contributions have added to our annual emissions.
Prime ministers tend to use weasel words, like saying we are doing better than a lot of countries, as if that is a badge of honour. Unfortunately, the reality is the benchmark set by Australia and most countries under the Paris agreement will not meet the 2030 reductions believed necessary to prevent significant impact on people, flora and fauna.
It's like saying at a later date that we failed by a lesser degree than others.
The ball is in the voters' court. By 2030 we will have no-one to blame except ourselves if the results are not to our liking.
It's worth considering the old adage that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
Paul Duggan, Garden Suburb
WHEN will the Premier give our police mobile water cannons? They can hose these idiots away and not get injured ('Won't cop it', Newcastle Herald 30/12). Also, will someone explain why people who are allegedly lighting fires on total ban days are let out on bail?
Barry Spaulding, Cardiff
IT has been wonderful reading of all the success of students achieving high ATARs in the Herald ('Hard work pays off for our ATAR stars', Herald 18/12). Their future seems assured. What I am interested in are the students who are forced to go on to gain an ATAR and do poorly. What happens next for these students? What jobs are available for them, and what supports and advice are in place to help them to the next step? These students who now don't know what to do next, or who have limited employment prospects because jobs become harder to find, need to be taken care of. I believe the risk of drug usage and homelessness can increase dramatically. Can anyone tell me of all the students that have left school in Year 12 2019 in NSW the percentage who go to uni, TAFE, work or unemployment?
Aaron Buman, Carrington
OUR Prime Minister coming under fire for not being present at the bushfires is, I believe, playing politics at the lowest level. What can he do apart from being of hindrance to the situation? He is not a trained firefighter , as was Tony Abbott. He is doing exactly what a leader should be doing , by leaving it to the experts. Even generals during wars needed time off to recharge their thinking capacity, and prime ministers are no different. Without their family time they can become obsessed to the point of bad decision-making. Yes he needs the time off. Yes, his family need a break from politics. Our economy needs leaders able to refresh their thinking capacity, and no, he doesn't deserve all this political backstabbing for being a prime minister instead of a fire fighter. The fact is that even on holiday he is on call day and night, which I think truly shows he and his family deserve a break. He is not Houdini; give the man a break.
Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek
ONCE again, our voters have proved themselves worse than our politicians. Fighting bushfires is predominantly a state responsibility. Shaming the Prime Minister into returning from his holiday while the Minister of Defence and the acting Prime Minister were still here, allocating all the support the states required, is pathetic.
Sean Farnham, Kurri Kurri
THERE are a lot more complaints from Tony Morley (Short Takes, 30/12) about East End residents complaining than actual complaints from the East End residents. We love live music. It's the ratepayer-funded Supercars fiasco we don't like.
John Hudson, Newcastle East
AFTER more than two decades of obfuscation, denial and interference the LNP owes Australia some real concerted and deliberate action to prevent further catastrophic impacts from our changing climate. Forget about praying,Mr Morrison; step up and lead.
