It is notable that the NSW State Government has recently cut its fire services, writes Tarric Brooker.
AS NSW BRACES itself against the threat of further catastrophic bushfires across much of the State, it has been revealed that the Berejiklian Government made major cuts to the capital expenditure budgets of both Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service.
While different from the daily operating budgets of these services that pay for things such as firefighters' salaries, the capital expenditure budget is put toward the purchase of all manner of essential fire fighting equipment such as fire trucks, helicopter water bombers and support ambulances.
Under the 2019-20 NSW State Budget, Fire and Rescue had its capital expenditure budget cut by $28.5 million or 35 per cent. The Rural Fire Service has its capital expenditure budget cut by $49.9 million or 75 per cent.
The
NSW Premier has issued a stern warning to the state’s firefighters.
“Please
be cautious with your water usage,” says Gladys Berejiklian.
“Ensure hose water is used efficiently and don’t leave any hoses
unattended.”
Level
one water restrictions were introduced in June to protect Sydney’s
water supply from drought conditions.
“Let’s
not forget about our farmers who are doing it tough,” says the
Premier. “We’ve seen some of the lowest in flows to dams since
the 1940’s.”
It
comes as 1,500 firefighters battle several blazes in the state’s
north, which have so far killed three people.
“We
need to take a broad view of our water consumption, even during times
of severe fire danger,” says the Premier. “Please save water
where you can.”
Critics
have lashed out at the Premier’s comments, likening them to her
stance on pill testing and Sydney’s lock out laws.
“Her
priorities are completely out of whack,” says Mark Glasson of the
NSW Rural Fire Service. “She has got no fucking idea what she’s
on about.”
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-04/annastacia-palaszczuk-announces-plan-to-open-thousands-of-hecta/11670866?pfmredir=sm&fbclid=IwAR1YVRX-02w6hVn_yPeq9Ko3qjWB6RZ6QUfVcYzrEEUfLU4STmPp_M7QEOs
It
may be too late to save the beloved koala after bushfires wiped out
their natural habitat and killed thousands of their population, an
expert claims.
Deborah
Tabart OAM, chairman of the Australian Koala Foundation, estimated
over 1000 koalas may have been killed in the last two months from
deforestation and bushfires.
She
said this this left the marsupials 'functionally extinct'.
The
bushfires that continue to devastate NSW and Queensland have also
destroyed 80 per cent of the koala's natural habitat.
12 July, 2019
Animals
including koalas and kangaroos could be culled in parts of South
Australia, where high population numbers are damaging the landscape.
A
report from a parliamentary inquiry has recommended the state’s
environment minister make an immediate decision to declare koalas,
western grey kangaroos, long-nosed fur seals and little corellas
overabundant in some areas.
Culling
is an option that could be suggested, although the report
acknowledges there is reluctance to communicate publicly the need for
culling because “some community stakeholders find the concept of
culling an abhorrent approach in managing overabundant species”.
NSW
deputy premier vows to open up Murray Valley national park to logging
The
inquiry, by the parliament’s natural resources committee,
investigated the impact and management of certain overabundant and
pest animals and the effectiveness of current measures to keep
numbers under control.
If
the recommendation is adopted to declare population numbers of
certain species too high, it would trigger ministerial powers to
order control options.
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