Federal government is looking to supervising the states to rid the nation of
millions of introduced species including rabbits, pigs, foxes and wild dogs.

The house of representatives agriculture committee received over 100
submissions of how to deal with these pests. Liberal MP Alby Schultz, who
chairs the committee, said the inquiry report was still being written but
would urge the government to set up a body to co-ordinate the efforts of the
states.

"All of the evidence that the committee collected pointed very much to the
need of that," Mr Schultz said.

Further recommendation would be establishing a national database to monitor
pest animal numbers and recorded progress in control programs. But Mr
Schultz indicated the committee would recommend further use of 1080 while
research continued into alternativesThe committee's report will be tabled in
parliament in late October or early November

CSIRO say rabbits alone cost Australia $115 million every year in lost wool
products, while foxes cost around $500 million and $750 million per year to
control.

What cost do you think wild dogs are effecting farming communities?

Here at SOS information being sent to us indicates plague proportions and I
say to Mr Schultz, ask the people surrounded by this problem, feed that
information to your database and you will find that National Parks are
unrestricted prime breeding ground for these wild dogs gorging on native
fawner along with adjacent farms livestock.

We ask the question of NSW and Victorian government's quest to shut down the
farming industry on and around the Snowy. "Is there another reason for
allowing the dogs to flourish near farms targeted for your National Park
portfolio to appease the green vote?

HI EVERYONE,
This is a invitation to attend the Volunteer Fire Fighters Presentation at
the Ex-Services Club, Cooma, on the 30th September at 7pm.
So please come along and hear for yourself whats it's all about, after all
it is your lively hood that is at stake hear.
This is your chance to have your own VOICE in this Volunteer Fire Fighters
Association.

Cheers
Peter Cannon.

Sixteen thousand trees would be planted this weekend on behalf of the ACT Government, helping to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from the Government's 1200-strong passenger car fleet, Chief Minister and Minister for the Environment Jon Stanhope said last week.

Do not laugh too long at this statement, the man's serious. It takes the self importance ego driven arrogance of a politician in the standing of Jon Stanhope to devise a media release containing this paragraph.

Now that he has moved into Messiah mode, associating himself with nature and salvation from his fleet of polution generators, we ask the question for the people of Canberra, "how does this Messiah substantiate 1200 government passenger vehicles with only a population of 330,000?"

COUNTRY VOICE

Readers need to be aware that this hand picked group, comprised of some user organisations and bureaucrats, meets at Bright and was formed after the Cattlemen were removed from the High Country. Parks Victoria formed this group after the Melbourne rally organised by Country Voice for the Mountain Cattlemen and other country groups. Parks Victoria’s hidden agenda is to stifle criticism of Parks Victoria by appearing to satisfy the concerns of some groups - but really doing nothing! It is a classic political strategy - often used by the present State Government. The recent Mayor's summit is an example.

We are writing this letter to all members of that group, asking them: How does it feel to be in the position of taking away other people's heritage while you sit on a politically motivated board, funded by the taxpayer, formed by Parks Victoria which is a Government department known colloquially as the 'neighbour from hell'?

Will this question make you include ethical behaviour and use a faithful historical perspective in your deliberations whilst you sit in meetings?

We remind you that people who traditionally lived and worked the areas you are discussing have now been excluded from the Park and its surrounds. Their long history of conservation, their stories, in fact all their legacies are being ignored.

The tall stands of timber regenerated from the days of the Forestry and timber workers, are a visible testament to the wise use of a sustainable resource. The tracks that those people put in are what you are making use of now - without any recognition of the worth of the work they did. Making the Alpine Park as large as it is means that the need for timber in Victoria is not being met - rather we are importing it from the rainforests of Indonesia and destroying another's country.

The bridal tracks which opened up the High Country and the cattleman's huts you are making decisions about were built and maintained by individual families. The Government have now claimed ownership of their huts, in legislation. No family will be compensated for providing shelter, help and advice to thousands of bushwalkers during the past. These families' knowledge will not be available for the future. Past Parks Victoria behaviour shows that the ownership of the individual huts will not even be acknowledged. This is evident in the plan to install generically worded signs at some huts with little history of individual huts and with probably no input from the original families which built the huts.

These are aspects of Australian heritage which are being stolen from our children - imagine how much richer we would be if the Aboriginals had been treated fairly. Now we see our own history, our own people, being discarded as if the knowledge and the stories are worthless. During the debate in Parliament about stopping alpine grazing, not one member of the Government acknowledged the long and proud contribution of the Cattlemen. This was the beginning of the plan to write the history of the Cattleman out of the High Country.

You are now making decisions about tour operators needing to use 'world's best practice' in the Park and encouraging use of the current huts, however, there is no representation from any tour operators on your committee and Parks Victoria has a reputation for stifling the activities of tour operators for the past 25 years. Your group, the Alpine National Park Users and Community Group, has criticised tour operators saying that they are "not educated about the heritage of the area". How do you know this?

We notice that there is a Mansfield Shire representative on your committee - but not once in the minutes so far has there been any mention of the twenty thousand dollars per year cost shifting that Parks Victoria has done to the Shire of Mansfield, leaving them to wholly maintain 20k of access road to the Alpine Park, used by thousands of visitors.

Tourism is supposed to replace grazing and timber as economic activities so why hasn't the Government plan to remove trout from the Alpine Park been raised at these meetings? Trout fishing used to generate millions of dollars for Alpine towns but now it is difficult to catch fish in the High Country Rivers and re-stocking is not allowed.

The representatives on this group are not representing the strong feeling against Parks Victoria that is felt in the Community, probably because the group is dominated by Government and Shire bureaucrats. People representing Groups will be most careful not to offend Parks Victoria in the hope of being given a few crumbs.

What do readers think about this?

Country Voice representatives Wendy Jubb Stoney and Bob Richardson are available for further comment. 0402 658 012

Difficult questions are mounting over whether bushfire services staff work legally with aircraft. In one report, two experts claim bushfire service staff lack qualifications under the Civil Aviations Act 1988. Verifying their claims took persistence. Could aviation sections of bushfire services be illegal? No one said they knew as our calls to Civil Aviation Safety Authority mounted. Finally, an email from CASA said bushfire services are responsible for ground bushfire operations and to talk to the NSW Rural Fire Service. We called CASA back saying there was information that a person( name withheld) was handling reports of illegal activities. While the RFS has run courses since at least 1988 teaching volunteers to map fires, some of its other air operations may be illegal. "This person is doing something about it," his assistant admitted sheepishly.

Unlike bushfire services, airport and defence force staff hold CASA qualifications if they are active in air operations. For example, aviation radio operators need CASA accredited radio operators licenses. Flight stewards need CASA qualifications before they can bring you sandwiches and coffee or demonstrate safety equipment. Can you imagine the uproar if people unqualified by CASA coordinated air traffic at your local airport or RAAF base?

This investigation found no evidence that bushfire volunteers do not face serious risks. Bushfire service aerial supervisors need qualifications similar to those held at airports and the defence force to coordinate aerial landings and take offs. Bushfire services have big air operation sections paying high salaries. RFS Chief Superintendent Maryanne Carmichael heads one such example; as her title suggests, she wields much power. There is no evidence that courses run from her section have the necessary CASA accreditation for her staff to manage or participate as team members in air operations. SOS Informants said that bushfire services ignore CASA regulations that pilots must autonomously make decisions.

They said a master servant relationship puts pilots under orders from bushfire services staff who do not understand air safety. Similar to airports coordinating and managing privately owned aircraft, bushfire services need an Air Operators Certificate from CASA. Charter services' Air Operators Certificates are not adequate if bushfire services work in any way with aircraft other than to sit passively as passengers or view activities as spectators… Imagine if airport passengers tried to direct or take control of air operations. They would be arrested for terrorism. Airport passengers can travel passively and view aircraft but cannot direct or take part in air activities. One aviation informant told our investigator that the RFS has officially known (and is documented) about this since 1999 and bushfire services have always lacked these qualifications.

One student pilot said no one would explain why the RFS told his air charter service to water bomb only one of two bushfires or why his charter service did as it was told. He said his pilot looked blank when he said that not trying to put out the second fire risked the lives of residents in the area and bushfire volunteers. Other informants described air charter services leaving aircraft motors running on the ground to use up contracted flying hour allowances to maximise profits. Sometimes this backfired when fires blew up and contracted running time had expired. Informants said aircraft following RFS orders to fly into smoke broke air safety legislation because of lack of visibility. Reports of following orders to fly into bushfire updraughts, point to risks of losing control and crashing. This raises questions over the legality of the bushfire aerial response in the ACT and NSW in 2002/3. Forecast next summer is a similar neutral period to 2002/3 with roughly equal periods of sun and rain (with lightning strikes)… The risk multiplies and multiplies as time ticks by and nothing is done.




IMAGINE HOW MUCH SAFER AND CHEAPER IT WOULD BE IF CHANGES WERE MADE

A satellite dish connected to a computer program to pick up fires could have aircraft water bombing within half an hour. Once it was safe, ground crews could mop up. This would slash the risks facing volunteers and landholders. It would also slash Australia's annual $billion dollar bushfire bill and the heartbreaking sight of aircraft futilely water bombing once fires are out of control. In a state the size of Victoria, a handful of aircraft would be enough to hazard reduce and protect the state. NSW might need a few more. One investigator found that the bushfire problem could be solved by:

1. Changing bushfire organisations to cultures of industrial democracy.

2. Using decisions based on scientifically assessed reports and local knowledge.

3. Putting out small fires quickly (rapid response). This can be done with greater safety aerially, at night when there is not the danger of aircraft losing control from updraughts and with pilots qualified for this operation wearing thermal imaging goggles that enable vision through smoke in the dark.

4. Doing more hazard reductions to minimise wildfires, which only weather change or a large patch of hazard reduction make extinguishable. The bush became fire adapted over millennia of Indigenous fire stick farming and will always burn. A large body of evidence shows that it is best to reduce fuel loads about every seven years (depending on topography and vegetation) and between August and autumn.

SOS Investigator ("Lady Spy")

It is with concern that a subscriber contacted SOS with this story on a bill that went through the Victorian parliament lower house to sanction the creation of the Otways National Park pushed by Bracks to satisfy his radical green mentors.

Further inquiries by our subscriber to Mr T Plowman, Victorian member for Benambra, was in the forma of a letter that asked the member,

"I was wondering which Liberal members of Parliament voted to support the bill"? Further, " I remember you signing up for membership with the Bush Users Group at Chiltern (Vic) when Iron Bark trees and National Parks was an issue". Rumour has it that all the Victorian Liberals are still courting the green vote, and that they voted for the park creation and are happy to abandon their support base". "DID YOU VOTE .. to support the creation of the Otways National Park?

The answer? …….the answer was straight from "Yes Minister".

Dear John,

Thank you for you email sent this evening in respect to the Otways National Park (Otways and Other Amendments) Bill. Attach copy of Hansard from my speech in Parliament on the debate for you perusal.

Yours Sincerely
Tony Plowman.

He speaks about his concerns about water catchments control management, fire risks (now Parks are in control around the Otways) that would threaten catchments areas. And timber workers jobs and how the bill proves Labor continues to chase the Green vote.

He didn't answer the two questions asked, but inquiries have revealed all the Libs, including Tony then supported the legislation and chased the Green vote....................

Now we know what options our Victorian readers and subscriber have with the two party system at next year's election. You may have Labor/Green or Liberal/Green, the choice is yours. However there is always plan "B" and that Mr Politician's who speak with falked tongue and are two faced will see you out of office and removed from your gilded cages.

SOS will be emailing individual Liberal and Nationals in Victoria to ask "WHY" and we will publish their replies.

Editor

Canberra has an influx of Possum's looking for homes to live in. Well we have it on good authority from redients of the Snowy that in one area ravaged by the 2003 bushfire in the National Spark er (park) there has only been one pussum seen in the past two years.

Now these possums in the capital of the ACT are not fools they know it is summer soon and the fuel loads are at massive levels on the Snowy with the destroyed tree's from the bushfire of 2003 will go again as nothing has been done to look at the tinder box by the brains trusts in command at the Environment establishments in the ACT and NSW and lets us not forget those other radicals in Victoria.

So who is playing possum?

Good news for NSW Farmers bordering National Parks, Andrew Leys, Manager,
Pest Management Unit Parks and Wildlife Division, NSW Dept of Environment
and Conservation has released these findings on ariel wild dog baiting that
was stopped by the Minister Bob Debus which has seen the wild dogs multiply
into attack packs threatening not only wild life and rural stock, but
farmers and the visitors to the parks with no discrimination.

SOS will be following this story in the newsletter out this evening with
information from one of our investigators looking at the Wild Dog problem.

The Editor
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Background

Because wild dogs can cause severe damage to grazing enterprises, control
programs to reduce wild dog numbers are necessary and a statutory
requirement for all land managers. To be effective, control must be
exercised over large areas including private and public land. Over the often
rugged and inaccessible terrain, aerial baiting with 1080 (sodium
monofluoroacetate) meat baits is the only feasible option. During such
baiting programs some native predators, particularly the spotted-tailed
quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), are potentially at risk of being poisoned.

Consequently, the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC -
which includes the former NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service)
instigated a research project in 2004 to measure the impact of aerial
baiting on spotted-tailed quoll populations. Initially, field experiments
were conducted in northern NSW but in the second year, a field experiment
was also conducted in southern NSW. The information in this Fact Sheet
reports mainly on the two field experiments conducted in northern NSW (2004
and 2005) but also describes the results obtained in southern NSW in 2005.
In addition, the Fact Sheet provides a summary of recent research in
Queensland.

The project has been funded primarily by the DEC with additional funds being
provided by the NSW Department of Lands. The NSW Department of Primary
Industries (DPI), Armidale Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB) and the
Niangala, Barnard River and Jeogla Wild Dog Control Associations provided
in-kind support.

Steering Committee

The results of this research are very important to a range of stakeholders
and thus, steering committees were established in both northern and southern
NSW. In northern NSW, the Aerial Baiting and Quolls Research Steering
Committee included representatives from NSW Farmers' Association, Armidale
RLPB, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia, CSIRO as well as
government agencies such as the DEC, DPI and the Department of Lands.

Program of work

The steering committees agreed to conduct the overall research program in
two stages. The first experiment (stage 1), conducted on the northern
tablelands of NSW in 2004, sought to measure the impact of aerial baiting on
quoll populations in areas that have a continuous and current history of
aerially baiting. This conservative approach was also chosen to avoid the
potential for additional and unnecessary quoll mortalities. Stage 2 of the
research sought to measure the impact of aerial baiting on quoll populations
in areas that do not have a current history of aerial baiting.

The methods were similar for all three experiments. Fresh meat baits dried
overnight were injected with a solution containing a standard dose of 1080
(6 mg per bait) and a bait marker, Rhodamine B (RhB). RhB temporarily stains
the mouth and digestive tract of an animal that consumes bait and is also
incorporated into growing hair (whiskers) should an animal survive after
eating bait.

Prior to baiting, all trappable quolls in the study areas were trapped,
tagged with identity transponders and fitted with radio-transmitters, which
contain a motion sensor that signals the death of an animal. For several
weeks after the aerial baiting, all quolls were radio-tracked on the ground
and from a helicopter. Where possible, carcasses of dead animals were
retrieved, subjected to a post-mortem examination, inspected for residues of
RhB and the tissue sampled for 1080 analyses. After baiting, live quolls
were re-trapped, the transmitters removed and samples of whiskers taken for
RhB analyses.

To monitor the naturally occurring decrease in bait toxicity, on the day of
the aerial baiting a number of baits were placed in wire cages at the study
site and samples were collected at regular intervals and assayed for 1080
(results for the 2005 trials pending).

Results

In winter 2004, a population of 31 radio-collared quolls was monitored
following a routine aerial baiting program in Tuggolo State Forest and
Nowendoc National Park. The study was part of the routine aerial baiting
program that is coordinated each year by the DPI and carried out by the
Niangala and Barnard River Wild Dog Control Associations. Baits were
deployed at a rate of 40 baits per kilometre. Only one of the radio-collared
quolls that died tested positive to 1080 and this animal died 23 days after
baiting when the degradation study showed that baits contained an average of
1.3 mg of 1080. This is far below the nominal LD50 of 6.3 mg of 1080 for a
quoll of its mass (3.4 kg). Furthermore, this animal had severe injuries
that an autopsy suggested occurred prior to death. In addition, vibrissae
analysis for RhB showed that a further five quolls out of 35 sampled post
baiting (includes non-collared animals) had eaten bait and survived,
demonstrating that bait consumption is not necessarily fatal for quolls.
However, per capita bait consumption (6 of 35 captured quolls ~17%) in this
trial was substantially less than in simulation trials conducted in southern
NSW using non-toxic baits (50-65% of animals consumed bait). It is possible
that 1080 itself reduced bait consumption. Unlike the simulation trials,
this work was carried out within an area that had a continuous history of
annual aerial baiting for over 30 years. Thus, the results from this first
experiment suggest that quolls may have developed bait aversion in response
to regular exposure to baits.

Stage 2 of the research was conducted during late-autumn and winter of 2005.
The first trial was conducted in the Styx River State Forest and parts of
Cunnawarra National Park on the Northern Tablelands. Aerial and other
surface-laid baits had not been used in this area since 1993. Fourteen
radio-collared quolls (12M:2F) were subjected to aerial baiting. Fresh meat
baits, prepared as described previously, were delivered at 40 baits per
kilometre within Styx River State Forest and 10 baits per kilometre within
Cunnawarra National Park (consistent with DEC practice elsewhere in the
State). Baiting was conducted in cooperation with the Jeogla Wild Dog
Control Association and the Armidale RLPB. Two of the radio-collared male
quolls died 29 and 34 days after baiting. The cause of death of these
animals is not known as tissue analysis for 1080 has not been completed.
However, at least one of the animals appeared to have been killed by a large
predator. Massive injuries to the thorax with tissue bruising indicated that
they occurred prior to death and a severed spine and a wild dog seen close
to the kill site suggest that this animal had been killed by a dog. In 2004,
the rapid degradation of 1080 suggested that the death of an animal 23 days
after baiting may not have been caused by 1080 even though it tested
positive (see explanation in previous paragraph). Hence, the results from
the 1080 degradation study in 2005, as well as the tissue analysis for 1080
(both results still outstanding), will help explain the cause of death.
Until this information is available, the involvement of 1080 in either death
cannot be ruled out.

RhB analyses of samples from 19 quolls, 5 feral cats and 1 wild dog
indicated that 13 quolls (including the two dead males) and 2 cats had eaten
and survived bait consumption. Most quoll whiskers showed more than two
bands (up to six bands in some animals), implying multiple bait takes.
However, as in the previous year RhB bands in quoll whiskers were faint,
possibly because quolls had eaten only part of a bait or regurgitated some
of it. Nevertheless, bait consumption was considerably higher (68%) than
that recorded during the previous year (17%).

The second trial in 2005 was conducted within the catchment of the Jacobs
River in southern Kosciuszko National Park. Sixteen radio-collared quolls
were exposed to aerial baiting at a rate of 10 baits per kilometre. Only one
quoll death was recorded over the period of monitoring, but that animal was
found to have died of natural causes rather than 1080 poisoning. Of 17
whisker samples collected from live quolls post-baiting, six (35%) tested
positive for Rhodamine B. Per capita bait consumption was higher than at the
regularly baited site in northern NSW (17%), but less than in the 2005
trials in northern NSW (68%) which was conducted on a quoll population with
a similar history of aerial baiting i.e. no recent history of aerial
baiting.

Concurrently with the DEC research, the Queensland Department of Natural
Resources and Mines has been undertaking research to measure quoll mortality
during surface baiting programs for wild dogs (P.Cremasco, personal
communication 2005). In trials conducted between 2002 and 2005 in southern
Queensland, only two 1080-related deaths among 76 radio-collared quolls have
been recorded with a further 6 radio-collared quolls dying from unknown
causes. In these experiments, quolls were exposed to surface laid baits at
spaced 500 m apart.

Implications and future research

Although some analyses are still outstanding, the available results from
each of the three separate aerial baiting trials conducted by the DEC during
the 2004-05 period, and from the work undertaken in Queensland during
2002-05, have demonstrated that mortality among known quoll populations is
much lower than that predicted by previous non-toxic trials. However, quoll
mortalities due to 1080 poisoning do occur, albeit rarely. It appears that
quolls eat toxic bait at highly variable rates. More importantly, most
quolls consuming 1080 dog baits survive. The consistency of these results
across sites indicates little difference in the response to aerial baiting
between distant quoll populations. Moreover, the observed low mortality
rates due to 1080 poisoning are apparently not caused by an adaptation of
quoll populations to repeated exposure to aerial baiting, but also applies
to quoll populations in areas that have not had a recent history of aerial
baiting.

Reasons for the lower than expected mortality of quolls in the wild are
uncertain. It may be that, of the animals that consume baits, most have a
higher tolerance of 1080 than would otherwise be predicted on the basis of
laboratory-based trials (ie. they have a higher resistance). It is also
possible that quolls regurgitate baits.

During any aerial baiting program, individual animals of a range of native
species may be killed by 1080 baits including spotted-tailed quolls,
brush-tailed phascogales and several species of dunnart and antechinus,
native rodents, potoroos, brushtail possums and many species of birds. The
recent research has shown that population level impacts on the species of
greatest concern, the spotted-tailed quoll, is unlikely. However, it is
possible that mortality due to aerial baiting may have significant impacts
on small populations of quolls already suppressed due to drought, habitat
fragmentation, disease etc. In addition, there is no information on the
sub-lethal effects of 1080 on native species e.g. fertility and birth
defects. On the other hand, aerial baiting which suppresses local fox and
dog populations may benefit quolls in the area. Hence, the potential impact
of aerial baiting on non-target species has to be assessed on a case by case
basis.

After discussing the results and other published information, the Steering
Committee agreed that aerial baiting can now be considered as an additional
control technique where appropriate. However, in order to maximise
effectiveness and minimise selection for bait-shy dogs, the Committee
encourages the use of an integrated approach that employs a range of
techniques e.g. ground and aerial baiting, trapping, shooting, exclusion
fencing.

The Steering Committee notes that all aerial baiting programs need to comply
with the Pesticide Control (1080 Wild Dog Bait) Order 2002 as required under
the Pesticides Act 1999. Also, it is a requirement under the Commonwealth
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, that new
aerial baiting programs in areas with spotted-tailed quolls need to be
referred to the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage.

The Steering Committee identified the need for further research to improve
quol conservation. Priority should be given to investigating the
demographics of quoll populations and their apparent high natural mortality
rate with results used to create viable models for quoll populations. The
interaction between native and introduced predators and their prey should
also be investigated as 1080 dog baiting can impact upon the populations of
some predators potentially causing a positive or negative response in other
species.

September 7th 2005

CATTLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE HIGH COUNTRY DESPITE BAN

Rural action group Country Voice has announced that cattle will graze in the
Alpine National Park this summer despite State Government legislation
banning the 170 year tradition.

In a move likely to embarrass Steve Brack's at his meeting with country
mayors in Bendigo next week Country Voice will formally unveil plans for a
major campaign against the government.

The first of a series of meetings with recreational, industry and farming
groups to explain the defiant move and seek support will be in Bendigo on
Sunday, September 11, at the same time as country mayors assemble for a
dinner meeting with the government members.

The Country Voice meeting will include representatives from the Mountain
Cattlemen's Association of Victoria, from the River Redgum areas along the
Murray River and several other groups.

Country Voice spokesman Bob Richardson said traditional practices were
under threat in the River Redgum forests as well as in the high country.

"This area is under review for the creation of more national parks which
will destroy country employment, limit recreation such as horseriding and
four wheel driving and abolish cultural practices such as forest cattle
grazing," he said.

"We have learned from bitter experience that these reviews always produce
what the government wants - new parks to trade for green preferences at
election time."

"We are recommending to country people that they take a more defiant stance.
Government consultation processes are designed to make you think you're
being listened to while they are wearing you down so that you have little
fight left when the decision goes against you."

Mr Richardson said that taking the cattle into the Alpine National Park
would provide inspiration to all country people struggling with this
city-centric government.

"It's not just for the benefit of Mountain Cattlemen. It's an action
intended to defend a living cultural heritage for all Australians and to put
this government on notice that Australians will not stand by and see their
heritage traded off for a few cheaply bought votes," he said. "However our
actions will be dignified and peaceful."

"We're aware that the government has been trying to form its own network
with rural groups in an effort to divide and conquer growing opposition. Our
campaign will demonstrate to Mr Bracks that his covert activities aimed at
stifling opposition in the bush have been well and truly exposed."

Contact: Bob Richardson 0402 658 012

My letter of the 24th August 2005 to NSW Minister for the Environment also Dr Tony Fleming person in charge of NSW National Parks with my concern:

"Is the NPWS of NSW, or any Contractor, directly or indirectly there associated with the NPWS, shooting and/or poisoning of our heritage wild horses (Brumbys) across the winter closed high country of the Snowy Mountains?" (read my letter in this BLOG dated 24th August 2005).

Rule of thumb is a 6 week turn around for letters to ministers for reasons beyond my comprehension .. it has been only 3 weeks so far and we live in hope ...

A David and Goliath situation exists between the CFA resources with government solidarity verses concerned and experienced fragmented firefighters over an issue of volunteer firefighters safety on CFA tanker trucks that are considered by the CFA and Bracks government to be safe contrary to those firefighters.

Understanding the concern of Victorian volunteer fire fighters and those of family who lost loved ones in the Linton fire truck tragedy of 1998, we must take you through the background of this inquiry, then to our findings ending up with a conclusion.



BACKGROUND

The Victorian Country Fire Authority operates under the State Government portfolio of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services with CFA chairman Len Foster and CEO Neil Bibby. The CFA has around 1400 career staff (executive and administration staff ) along with volunteer fire fighters with support staff volunteers totaling some 58,000 operating from around 1200 brigades across the state.

SOS inquiries were instigated from many concerned subscribers who felt a cover-up was set in place by the CFA concerning the safety of the volunteer fire fighters who travel in the 1200 or so Fire Truck Tankers that have been subjected to a coronial and general inquires into safety with mixed results.

The subject CFA fire tankers are constructed of steel like most trucks but are fitted out with fiberglass water tanks, side panels, tool boxes, pump covers, equipment cabinets and the controversial fiberglass roll-over protection structure (ROPS). This ROPS is situated on the truck behind the cabin with plastic seating inside which crew members use for protection. The CFA state the trucks are built from material that is totally safe. The concerned firefighters say the ROPS, along with all other fiberglass on the trucks, are very combustible and a threat to their lives.

Suppression of reports, along with allegations of a cover-up on many levels have been directed at the Bracks government and the CFA who present evidence they suggest is solid support that CFA Tankers are safe for the volunteers. The other of the coin has firemen on the ground and in the CFA tankers who feel history will be repeated unless their concerns, backed with evidence, are taken seriously and acted on immediately.

In 1998 at Linton Victoria, five firefighters died in a CFA tanker that was engulfed in flames. Examination of that truck showed that the steel framework and fitting had survived the wildfire, but the tonne of fiberglass and plastic areas on the truck were just molt-n-ash. It would seem that the Linton truck had run out of water, not retaining a required quantity to protect the truck and crew. Another tanker traveling some distance in front of the Linton truck had retained water, the crew survived, and the vehicle was left intact from the fire. "The circumstances of each vehicle may have been different in the fire as seconds of time during a bushfire can change situations drastically", SOS investigators were told by the CSIRO.

In 1997, fires at Creswick in Victoria destroyed the CFA Glen Park Tanker from which Captain Brian Webber and the truck crew, which included Mrs Webber, escaped death. Brian Webber, who has since retired from the CFA, submitted a report with recommendations from his experience along with concern for crew safety on CFA tankers well prior to the Linton fire.

The Victorian Country Fire Authority appears to be under sound management holding resources and finance to cope with volunteer front line staff safety as a priority found in the 2004 CFA Annual Report.



CFA Chairman Len Foster stated in the 2004 report:

The past year, CFA has participated in a range of State and interstate inquiries relating to fires and other major events. The State Government's Victorian Bushfire Inquiry into the 2002/03 Alpine fires provided invaluable guidance as to how CFA can improve its operations during major fires. CFA has consequently commenced the implementation of important recommendations. I am pleased to advise that as a result of extra funding from the State Government, CFA is now leading the reform of municipal fire prevention planning and spearheading its transition to an integrated municipal fire and emergency management approach.

CFA received contributions from Government and other sources amounting to $189.5 million. Statutory contributions formed the majority of our total revenue for the period, which increased by 5.6% over last year to a total of $207 million.

I am pleased to advise that the Strategic Resource Initiative (SRI) program was completed this year and has resulted in a major boost to CFA's resourcing and infrastructure. This State Government initiative, which has provided CFA with an injection of $98 million in extra funding over four years, has significantly improved the operational efficiency, effectiveness and safety of our people. Overall, the State Government has delivered more than $185 million in additional funds to CFA since 2000. This substantial investment has directly led to such tangible benefits as new fire stations, better equipment, fire fighting appliances and much needed support for volunteers.



CEO Neil Bibby stated in the 2004 report:

One of our key safety programs has been the joint research project between CFA, NSW Rural Fire Service and CSIRO to develop a vehicle spray protection system. The objective is to conduct research into fire fighting vehicle crew protection systems to increase fire fighter safety in wildfire burn over.



A coronial inquiry was conducted into deaths of the five firefighters during the Linton fire and a detailed report was prepared for the coroner by David Packham, a former CSIRO bushfire principal scientist. However this report was suppressed by a High Court decision and is locked away from public view in Victoria. The coroner released the findings of the inquiry and recommendations.

With the fire season now upon us many senior brigade captains and firefighters insistent that the CFA Tankers are too dangerous on bushfire front lines.



Wednesday issue of SOS will present the start of our finding with this inquiry.