polli publicity

[Tonyz]

seriously I cannot understand all this hoo haa about him being away.
Ive heard a few CFS guys getting quite ****ty when the knobs arrive at a disaster,
'just F off and let us get on with our job'....
'we are wasting time with you ass holes farting around'

are not uncommon,
if my house was in line of a fire, Id want the team doing their job not some dickhead pollie wanting media attention.

Sure Scotty is allowed a little privacy to go on holidays

[Beardy]

I think some want him to come home and stop the global warming so the fires go out :p

But yes I agree he is of no benefit to the job at hand, it could be construed as uncaring by some but no doubt it would of been planned well ahead to fit in with his schedule of commitments

[China]

Nothing to do with the fires it is just a opportunity to get some "look at me" press time

[Kuffy]

Getting your face on TV works...up to a point. It almost worked for Bill Shorten. I still remember when his face was plastered all over the news during the Beaconsfield mine disaster. Talk about capitalising on tragedy! Lucky I am not the only one that remembers that Bill is in it for Bill.

Waffling and wind-sniffing, the hollowness of Bill Shorten (https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/waffling-and-windsniffing-the-hollowness-of-bill-shorten-20150621-ghtmmu.html)

Bill Shorten most unpopular Labor leader in more than 30 years | The Canberra Times (https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6530969/shorten-most-unpopular-labor-leader-in-more-than-30-years/)

[damian]

There are people in society full of hate and looking for someone/something to aim it at. Scomo is a large target.

Nothing to do with reality, nothing to do with the perception of the majority. Everything to do with the noisy few, pretty much like everything in the media these days...

[poundy]

So here's my take.

This is all about face, and about leadership.

This is not about someone being a part of a situation to directly help, or to directly add value to the front line troops.

It's disrespectful to go on leave and bugger off without telling anyone. His claims about it being no different to any other time seem hollow - I expect the press at least to be able to confirm that the deputy PM is the stand-in if that's the case, and that's just wrong that it went round and round without being confirmed by anyone. The magnitude of the fire situation should have also been a red flag - his team should have been thinking is this a situation where he should be around, for better or worse, to bring positive PR opportunities to the fore.

He should have owned up to *everything*. He should have been very clear about the things they learnt (instead of avoiding the question).

But the fact that he then goes to press events with others and stands in the background and grins? Wow. If that's not a sign he's disjointed from reality, or can't show emotions, then I don't know what it is. It just adds to the disrespect he portrays.

I'm the first to admit that I'm not "the common man", being a higher educated, well paid white collar worker from the city, but I can't see how anything he has done since taking the top job would win favour with anyone, let alone the average family.

[DavidG]

Please explain the difference between a person at the end of a phone in either Hawaii or Canberra?

[poundy]

he was on leave. Not the leader - there was a stand in (that nobody knew who it was - and nobody still knows who he actually is?!?!? McCormack has no presence)

If he said "I was still at the reigns, while having beers with those other Aussie tourists at the beach" then does that make it better?

But this is about face - and to be the face, you need to be where the camera crews are, and that's at the front line. It's not about being there to hold a hose and see the flame wall. It's about being there to say they're going to do something about the situation, to offer support and condolences in person.

[AlexS]

I detest Morrison for a whole lot of reasons, but I can't see that there's anything wrong with him having a short, pre-arranged holiday with his family during the fires. It's not as if he could do anything useful, and as far away as possible from the people doing the real work is probably the best place for him.

[poundy]

I can't see that there's anything wrong with him having a short, pre-arranged holiday with his family during the fires.totally agree there. But a pre-arranged holiday isn't a surprise to the nation, and it's not a surprise to the press. This one however seems to almost be like he slinked out of town hoping nobody would see him leave and nobody would ask for him while away, and he'd slink back to town and nobody would be the wiser. Be open and honest and transparent. And sure, you've still got to be on the first plane back when lives are lost like they were, but that's the consequence of being in the top job

[AlexS]

Yep. Most years there's a brief announcement that the PM is going on leave to wherever, and the deputy PM will be acting PM. The way this was handled, with denials from his office, firstly that he was on leave and then that he was in Hawaii, made it look far worse than it was.

[Beardy]

Yep. Most years there's a brief announcement that the PM is going on leave to wherever, and the deputy PM will be acting PM. The way this was handled, with denials from his office, firstly that he was on leave and then that he was in Hawaii, made it look far worse than it was.

Yes I agree that it is strange that it was done on the sly, I am sure there was nothing sinister going on but it is a bad PR experience that probably didn’t need to be that way

[Moti]

Interesting that first response of his office was to lie about it. Made not a good look much worse. And it's not as if it wasn't going to get out eventually.

[China]

"In politics, nothing happens by accident, if it happens you can bet it was planned that way

Franklin D. Roosevelt

[rustynail]

On Saturday we had 70 acres of our 80 acre lot burnt out. While fighting for the house, my wife said, "Look behind you!" My woodwork shed was next to go but I couldn't leave the house unattended so just resigned myself the the impending loss. Next thing, blue and red flashing lights appear in the drive way. They spot the problem and head straight for the shed. I am bloody thankful it was a truck load of firies rather than our blathering prime minister that showed up in the nick of time.

[ian]

I can't see that there's anything wrong with him having a short, pre-arranged holiday with his family during the fires. It's not as if he could do anything useful, and as far away as possible from the people doing the real work is probably the best place for him.

People posting here have very very short memories...

Christmas 74, Gough Whitlam was castigated for buggering off to Europe (the museums in Paris if I recall) and not returning to deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Tracey.
Lance Banard carried the can while Darwin was evacuated.
"The great man" should have caught the first flight back but instead delayed some days before grudgingly deciding to return.

More recently, pollies have learnt from Gough and have been a lot better behaved -- at least when it comes to appearing to care -- but
Christine Nixon (Vic Police Commissioner) was given heaps (by ScoMo if I recall correctly) for going to dinner while Victoria burned -- which I thought a little unfair as she really only needed to have her mobile with her and to stay off the grog.

You may not recall but ScoMo made a huge song and dance earlier in the year when there was major flooding in north Queensland -- calling out the Army to assist -- and in that instance at least appearing to care
and in his response to the drought nary a photo-op is been missed.
But in response to the major blazes that have devastated NSW and Queensland since at least early November -- ScoMo's attitude seems to be that the fires are just "business as usual". Allowing ScoMo to justify buggering off to Hawaii with the family.
I don't think any reasonable person expects ScoMo to do a Tony Abbot and run into the scrub with a fire hose, but at the very least he could be seen to be caring while staying out of the way. Mum and the kids could even have stayed in Hawaii.

This business that he's back because of the two fireries killed at Buxton is just garbage.

[China]

ian, Very well said

[q9]

Context matters. He criticised Nixon, then did the same thing himself.

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv5csaH-w9w)

[Glider]

but at the very least he could be seen to be caring while staying out of the way. Mum and the kids could even have stayed in Hawaii.

I saw the footage of ScoMo and Gladys at fire HQ having operations explained to them. I'm sure they weren't asked there when serious work was afoot.

IMO, leaders should be out there listening to the victims and their needs. And to the volunteers on the fire ground who need better masks and have to crowd fund for them. I don't belong to the local brigade for kicks or enjoyment. It's much more fun to sit on my bum and watch the cricket or work in the shed.

I wondered why you'd fly to Hawaii to sit on the beach when you live at Cronulla.

mick

[Lappa]

I don’t particularly like Scott Morrison but he goes away on holidays and everyone’s up in arms because he’s not here comforting people and liaisoning with the firies, so he comes back and everyone’s up in arms because he’s getting in the way and is only there for a photo shoot.

[Mr Brush]

The only surprise to me was that someone whose entire career has been built on marketing, spin, and "optics" could so fundamentally misjudge the mood of the country. In practical terms he's as useful as a chocolate teapot, but I'd at least expect him to be on top of his PR....

A government elected on a promise of doing nothing about anything was always going to be fine until something like this happened.:((

[ian]

In practical terms [ScoMo's] as useful as a chocolate teapot,
now you're disparaging the usefulness of chocolate tea pots. At least you can pour cold water into a chocolate tea pot.

[Glider]

Only a couple of days ago it was reported that ScoMo has an honours degree in science. It didn't reveal in what discipline, however it does mean that if anyone can dispel the belief theory about climate change and underscore the scientific facts known since Arrhenius in 1896, it should be our PM.
Google Arrhenius and climate change if you're interested. The only thing new about it is the unexpected speed of the trend.

Some leaders know what to do and others don't. This bloke has more clout than anyone to throw money and resources where they're needed. He deserves to be brought into line in the same way as he has done to others.

mick

[rustynail]

I have just finished reading our illustrious prime minister's announcement that "public service employees will be paid for their time on emergency services duties." Meanwhile the self employed can take a flying leap. Is this man joking?! I am sure the chaps that rolled up to my joint on Saturday night were not public servants or bank johnnys. It took 5 seconds to tell them what was needed and they were fully operational within a minute. If it wasn't for their efficiency my insurance company would be looking at a bill of well over $100,000. And that would just be for one shed. There are another two close by insured for the same amount. The fourth shed was lost before they got there but it was old and used for non valuables, so the loss was of small concern. If it were not for those firies we would probably have lost all the sheds as they were all within the burnt area. My wife, daughter and self had our hands full protecting the house and couldnt spare any time on the sheds. After the boys had saved the sheds they came straight back to the house to help us and set up between the house and the fire front, along with another truck, to face a wall of flames well over 20m high. Thank you Pearl Beach RFS. You said you came down to "see if you could be of assistance." Well take it from me, you achieved your goal.

[doug3030]

I have just finished reading our illustrious prime minister's announcement that "public service employees will be paid for their time on emergency services duties." Meanwhile the self employed can take a flying leap. Is this man joking?!

Rustunail, Im pleased the firies were able to save three of your sheds and your house. It must have been a huge relief when you saw that the truck was crewed by firies and not Scott Morrison and a couple of other politicians.

As to Scomo authorizing firies who work for the Government to continue drawing their pay while deployed with the RFS but not the others - I agree it is not enough. But when you think about it, that's about all he can do in that regard as a snap decision. He cannot very well order private enterprise to pay their workers while on fire duty as they rely on the revenue their workers generate at work to pay their wages. Big business may be able to handlethat but small business certainly cannot.

In order to work out some sort of plan to pay the employees of private enterprise a system would have to be put in place, similar to how employers are compensated for employees in the Defence Force Reserves. Let's hope that if something good comes out of this terrible fire season it is that procedures like that are put in place.

[poundy]

I hope that there is a way to fund the volunteers.

I agree that the (knee jerk) reaction of an additional 4 weeks leave for deployment in emergency responses for federal employees is appropriate and is a great step in the right direction. I saw on at least one social media post that ANZ Bank have matched that. So again, that's awesome if that happens elsewhere as well, but it'd be great if that could be dealt with in a wider way.

I have an old school friend who has been to so many deployments this year it's not funny. He's not self employed, but the place he works for has been absolutely fantastic letting him take time and go. I can only imagine the impact this would have on the bottom line, having a long term productive employee missing for what is now adding up to almost a couple of months unplanned - even with replacing staff with casuals, where that makes sense, would be hugely impactful. Everything we can do to help that, we should.

[Lappa]

NSW Govt closed a number of TAFE colleges that would or could be bush fire affected, telling all staff (teachers, admin, support staff etc. etc) to stay away. Some colleges were closed for 4 days.

Then an email came around reminding everyone affected by the closures to fill in a leave form as the time off would be coming out of their leave entitlements.

[Beardy]

I hope that there is a way to fund the volunteers.

I agree that the (knee jerk) reaction of an additional 4 weeks leave for deployment in emergency responses for federal employees is appropriate and is a great step in the right direction. I saw on at least one social media post that ANZ Bank have matched that. So again, that's awesome if that happens elsewhere as well, but it'd be great if that could be dealt with in a wider way.

I have an old school friend who has been to so many deployments this year it's not funny. He's not self employed, but the place he works for has been absolutely fantastic letting him take time and go. I can only imagine the impact this would have on the bottom line, having a long term productive employee missing for what is now adding up to almost a couple of months unplanned - even with replacing staff with casuals, where that makes sense, would be hugely impactful. Everything we can do to help that, we should.

I am not a fan and pretty disappointed with his announcement.
It is all fine for him to do it for public servants and then say I hope other businesses follow suite, sure you will get some of the big corporates jumping on board as it is a great marketing/ publicity stunt but the reality is that the majority of the volunteer workforce would be self employed or working in smaller businesses that do not have the financial ability to do so.
The gubberment should set up a remuneration payment to assist all the volunteers.

In Canada there are no volunteers, the firefighters are all paid professionals

[Mr Brush]

Maybe the best compromise is to set a limit on the number of "free" days that volunteers should be expected to contribute, this being a number of at least 10-15 days. Beyond that, ALL of them are compensated, whether employed full time, self-employed, or government employed? That helps to preserve the traditional "volunteer" ethos, while also ensuring that nobody is massively out of pocket through volunteering.

However you look at it, the current arrangements are clearly not sustainable. Since we can no longer rely on large (e.g. air) assets being moved around between countries with different fire seasons, perhaps some of the $$$ being frittered away on defence project cost overruns would be better spent elsewhere?

[Mr Brush]

The solution to all these problems could lie with a VIABLE opposition party, but just like the UK we don't appear to have one..... :((

[Vann]

On Saturday we had 70 acres of our 80 acre lot burnt out...Wow. So close and I'll bet so worrying.

A week ago we were listening to news broadcasts about your fires, while being rained on here. Would have happily sent those clouds back across the Tasman.

Best wishes to all those affected.

And Merry Christmas to all.

Cheers, Vann.

[A Duke]

Hi,
Why should the current crop of pollies cop the blame? Bush fires are so common that we have a "bush fire season", this should have been sorted a century or two ago, that makes along line of contenders to share the blame.
When I came here I was shocked to learn that something so serious relied so heavily on volunteers.
Regards

[woodPixel]

Rustynail, for your workspace, I'd bet the stress-sweat being thrown from your own body would have been enough to put out that fire. What an insideous choice. I'm very glad you were saved. The firies are real heros. True bloody heros.

Fire is the very worst disaster.

My brother is some form of honcho for National Sparks and Wildfire Service as a team leader/ranger (not exactly sure of title). He's 48 and has always been the thin one of the family, but with the 10 day on/off roster they are having to go elsewhere and fight these monsters... he is all skin and bones. Haggard, drawn and utterly exhausted.

On time off, if there is a bloody great bushfire that requires 14 days off the workforce, you'd think things are PRETTY FECKNG BAD to necessitate two weeks to put it out.... It seems that its within EVERYONE'S interests to galvanise the entire community to deal with the situation. If there is nothing left once the flames are gone, there isn't much business to be done.... 3 days off... hmmm, just a little bit of a bother, but if you NEED 3 WEEKS then well, its not so good, is it?



As for our PM, probably best he stays away. Seems that things run better without him being around anyway. Being out of the country might have been a blessing.

Has anyone considered that his minders and handlers actually SENT him away? He strikes me as a dope. Thick as 20 planks and always terribly confused when normal people are talking. To have him appear at a time of national crisis may in fact have been a disaster in itself!


...

I can't stand the clowns we have in office right now. I've given up on the Australian people to produce true leaders, people with True Honesty and true credibility. Duds. All duds.

[rustynail]

Our local RFS is made up of 75% self employed people. Many of them have been away from their work for over 2 months. No business is going to fair well with that sort of neglect, particularly at this time of year and particularly after such a catastrophic event. Many of our local business have been completely wiped out, so those volunteers who owned them have not only sacrificed their time, they have also lost any way of compensating themselves. If that's fair I'll eat my hat.

[ian]

My brother is some form of honcho for National Sparks and Wildfire Service as a team leader/ranger (not exactly sure of title). He 48 and has always been the thin one of the family, but with the 10 day on/off roster they are having to go elsewhere and fight these monsters... he is all skin and bones. Haggard, drawn and utterly exhausted.
this seems an appropriate time to share this
No, Scott Morrison, my husband does NOT want to be fighting fires this summer! – SMARTER THAN CROWS (https://smarterthancrows.wordpress.com/2019/12/10/no-scott-morrison-my-husband-does-not-want-to-be-fighting-fires-this-summer/?fbclid=IwAR0KIp1TQTVHy3rbWGB2koZ50LZdxUc7JKmu0T275wDez-32-P3oJguYS6I)

[Mr Brush]

Thanks for posting that Ian - very sobering indeed. The disconnect between politics and the real world just keeps growing :((

[ian]

Maybe the best compromise is to set a limit on the number of "free" days that volunteers should be expected to contribute, this being a number of at least 10-15 days. Beyond that, ALL of them are compensated, whether employed full time, self-employed, or government employed? That helps to preserve the traditional "volunteer" ethos, while also ensuring that nobody is massively out of pocket through volunteering.

However you look at it, the current arrangements are clearly not sustainable.
agree that the current situation is not sustainable ...

however, the "standard" volunteer arrangement of one night per week, one weekend per month and 2 weeks (= half your annual leave entitlement) per year is clearly inadequate in the current situation. Bumping up the leave allowance does nothing to compensate those employed by small business or the self employed. And "compensating" the self employed also does nothing to help. If you're self employed there's only you bringing in any income.


I believe that at its core the problem really relates to the massive downsizing and contracting out of government employment. No longer do you have an employed workforce able to be directed to assist in an emergency. In part the "volunteers" that used to be able to be provided from their secure government employment have been replaced by "independent contractors". There is no longer a pool of readily available volunteers.
I suspect that the situation can only be stabilised by requiring all contractors working on government work to allow all their sub-contractors and sub-sub-sub-contractors to provide their people time off to volunteer.

[woodPixel]

Maybe public servants, being servants OF the public and taking taxes OFF the public, should do what they are told to do?

If the government asks them to put out fires, off they go!

Bugger extra compensation, its like being in the military, even if you maintain typewriters or staple requisition forms for paperclips....there may/will be time a rifle is put in your hands. Its part of the gig.

[AlexS]

The solution to all these problems could lie with a VIABLE opposition party, but just like the UK we don't appear to have one..... :((

Quite so. Without a good opposition, you won't have a good government.

Re payment for the volunteers, I'm not sure what the solution is. Most people would like them to at least be compensated for any lost income and expenses. Some volunteers are proud of the fact that they are performing a community service and are reluctant to accept payment, but for some there is a significant financial cost. Perhaps Mr Brush's post #29 is a good starting point.

[Lappa]

Maybe public servants, being servants OF the public and taking taxes OFF the public, should do what they are told to do?

If the government asks them to put out fires, off they go!

Bugger extra compensation, its like being in the military, even if you maintain typewriters or staple requisition forms for paperclips....there may/will be time a rifle is put in your hands. Its part of the gig.

Even the military person licking stamps has had some military training. How much fire fighting training have the public servants had?

[woodPixel]

How much fire fighting training have the public servants had?

From the state of our current governments incessant bungling, it would seem thats ALL they do....

:)

[Beardy]

The trouble is Woodpixel the ones before them and no doubt the ones to follow are no better

[damian]

People posting here have very very short memories...

Christmas 74, Gough Whitlam was castigated for buggering off to Europe (the museums in Paris if I recall) and not returning to deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Tracey.
Lance Banard carried the can while Darwin was evacuated.
"The great man" should have caught the first flight back but instead delayed some days before grudgingly deciding to return.

snip..

This business that he's back because of the two fireries killed at Buxton is just garbage.

The key difference between those other situations is they were tactical. These fires have been going since August. Exactly how long does he put off time with his family for a situation he can do nothing about and which is the province of teh states anyway ?

No one likes hearing it but lousy government isn't a product of bad opposition it's a product of a disconnected ignorant and self absorbed electorate.

Remember YOU put all of them there...

I of course don't discriminate, I hate everyone equally...

[Lappa]

Remember YOU put all of them there...
.

I resemble that remark.

None of the candidates I vote for ever get in

[woodPixel]

None of the candidates I vote for ever get in

None Of The Above have never won :(

[damian]

Define "vote for".

If you are in an election with mandatory preferential voting your last 3 places should be greens coal/lnp/whatever and labor. If you put them higher than that you ARE voting for them.

If you are lucky to be able to vote partial preferential then you should give them no vote at all. This is why they force us to mark every box, it increases the chance their bunny will get up.

Since I was 18 I've voted independents and minor parties. It doesn't matter which one you pick either way you put a scare into the majors. I have on a few occasions put a 0 in every box. It kills me to do it, voting is a duty, but when there are only 3 boxes I can't bring myself to vote for any of them. I hate this situation so much I'm thinking of getting on the paper for teh next state election, just so _I_ have someone to vote for (anyone who votes for me is an idiot).

[doug3030]

(anyone who votes for me is an idiot).

Well looking at who has been elected in the past 20 years or so, there's a lot of idiots on the electoral rolls.

If you can get ALL the idiots to vote for you you can win it easy.

[rustynail]

A Firie just called in to check that all was OK. I told him we were fine and asked how he was faring. His eyes welled up with tears (probably the smoke) and said it all seems like a bad dream and never ending. He has been at it for 8 weeks.
I can remember, as a kid, fighting a fire for 4 days, at the end of which I slept for 14 hours straight. I can't even begin to imagine what 8 weeks would be like for your equilibrium.
But one thing I do know; That fella aint travelling too good.

[woodPixel]

What to know something that REALLY gets my goat - we had a break in at the building last night.

The downstairs cages in the secure carpark.

A bloke here is a RFS volunteer, he has a mini-truck he drives home (perhaps its more of a souped-up 4WD).

Some goddam scumbag stole his chainsaw. Not the RFS', but his.

What sort of mongrel filth steals a bloody chainsaw out a RFS volunteer's storage at THIS TIME of the year when the sheizz is hitting ALL fans?

It boggles the mind. The sheer amazing stupidity of it. My mind... boggled!

There are a few people here who are pretty excited over it. If they catch said scumbag, I dont think its the cops that'll be called....

[AlexS]

Since I was 18 I've voted independents and minor parties.
I do the same, only in the hope that one day, it will encourage one who is any good.
If I look at the only politicians that have ever been worth feeding, I only see independents: John Hatton, who was vilified by the Coalition when he shone the sunlight on police corruption. When he finally forced them to hold the Wood Royal Commission, look what it turned up. Ted Mack, divested himself of his architecture practice immediately on election to council and introduced open government in council elections, resigned from federal and state parliaments just in time to avoid receiving a parliamentary pension etc etc. Andrew Wilkie...possibly. It's a pretty short list.

Edited to mention Bob Katter. He was an independent before forming Katter's Australia Party, and before he resigned to become an independent, he was a Country member.

Cue that famous line from Gough Whitlam.

[damian]

Well looking at who has been elected in the past 20 years or so, there's a lot of idiots on the electoral rolls.

If you can get ALL the idiots to vote for you you can win it easy.

Nooooo! I think I'd suicide before wading into that sewer every day. It would be nice to get enough votes to qualify for the payout though. If it covered the cost of the candidacy.. But goodness don't let me win. That'd be hell.

Maybe the politicians worth having don't want to be politicians...

[Bushmiller]

I don't believe the controversy over Scomo's holiday is really about the holiday itself. In the normal course of events everybody, in Australia, is entitled to annual leave. It seems that the issue is more to do with how a PM should behave when there is a crisis current and irrespective of whether he is physically able to assist. I tend to agree that he is probably more use remaining in his office and mobilising assistance from there. Agreed he could do it from his holiday destination, but that lacks the necessary political look that is so favoured among our politicians.

Any CEO would return to the "office" if a crisis presented itself. By any other name, that is what a Prime Minister is. I am not sure that too many PMs around the world take extended holidays other than a long weekend. My own belief is that his position was exacerbated by the apparent hypocrisy following his comments about Christine Nixon and she only went out to eat. It is perhaps a lesson to all politicians to be wary before shouting your mouth off for political mileage as it may come back to haunt you.

The other strange aspect of the holiday was the secrecy that surrounded it. It was always going to raise eyebrows

The PM's job is not an ordinary job. If you put up your hand for such an exalted position (that one is arguable too, but maybe not here), do not expect to have time off: Particularly after less than a year in office. If it was pre-planned, cancel it.

Regards
Paul

[pippin88]

The secrecy was a major issue. No notification that we had an acting Prime Minister.

I don't have an issue with Scotty from marketing going on holiday. Follow the normal conventions. Leave someone in charge and let people know who is covering.

[Sturdee]

The PM's job is not an ordinary job. If you put up your hand for such an exalted position (that one is arguable too, but maybe not here), do not expect to have time off.

If it was pre-planned, cancel it.


Here in Vic the premier was on holidays prior to the fires and the emergency services was supervised by the minister in charge of them.

As soon as the fires broke out he cancelled his holidays and was on deck in the state emergency control room and supervising an emergency meeting of cabinet to see what the government could do.

Immediate plans of action is being taken for emergency relief, evacuation plans for getting people, including the thousands of holiday makers, out of the affected areas by asking for immediate help from the Federal government for military assistance.

At the press conference yesterday he was asked if he would visit the fire areas and he said that his first job is to help the emergency relief efforts by ensuring that no petty bureaucracy got in the way and that he would visit later this week if and when the fire services would not be hindered by his visit.

Peter.

[ian]

At the press conference yesterday he was asked if he would visit the fire areas and he said that his first job is to help the emergency relief efforts by ensuring that no petty bureaucracy got in the way and that he would visit later this week if and when the fire services would not be hindered by his visit.
Precisely
Andrews knows that his job is to stay out of the bloody way and let the professionals manage the situation, while providing the necessary push where required to make things that need to happen in the next few hours happen.

There'll be more than enough time to manage people's expectations of meeting and greeting once the emergency is finally contained

[Bushmiller]

Edited to mention Bob Katter. He was an independent before forming Katter's Australia Party, and before he resigned to become an independent, he was a Country member.

Cue that famous line from Gough Whitlam.

Yes, we remember.

:)

Regards
Paul