Letters to the editor and short takes, December 27 2019

I'm not making these comments without knowing first-hand what it is like to be part of a brigade and the reality of fighting fires over quite a few years. I have been active in the past as a deputy captain and member of a team that would work day and night in the protection of our communities, and I understand the difficulties faced each day by those who put their lives on the line to help keep others safe.

I find it incredible that governments can basically and literally burn money providing these fireworks for a few people to have a good night, and yet all these families, both farmers and bushfire victims, have lost or are losing everything they own. The millions of dollars spent on these events around our country is in my opinion a disgrace and the money could be used to help firefighters and those that have suffered loss because of the fires. It could alternatively help farmers.

This needs to be broadcast and supported. I believe those who run these events should be shunned and these events not supported. How on earth does it make any sense that we have these massive fires and yet they are going to set fire to tons of gunpowder for fun? It defies belief, and in my opinion is absolutely disgraceful and disrespectful to all those that are working hard to put out fires and keep people safe.

IS our Prime Minister the leader of the nation, or is he just doing a job with great holiday opportunities?

In February this year Scott Morrison "toured" in Townsville during the floods there, bringing in the military to assist with the clean up. He called the North Queensland floods a national emergency, which has significant implications including allowing the national defence services to help.

In October, Mr Morrison voted down a Labor Party motion to declare a national emergency on the fires effecting the east coast. This would have allowed the military to assist with controlling the fires that have since worsened to destroy many millions of hectares of bush, over 800 homes and killed eight people. They would also bring relief to thousands of exhausted fire services volunteers.

The PM has declared that the fires are a state responsibility and took off to Hawaii instead of leading a national response to this grave emergency. What the blazes does our Prime Minister think his job entails?

These fires all around our nation are causing great damage to thousands of Australians. The smoke is causing severe asthmatic episodes, which are potentially fatal. The national productivity, lost wages, additional costs, reduced hours "worked" while fireys volunteer, lost farmlands and increased reparations costs etc.

Then there's the human cost.

This is a national emergency. What the blazes is Mr Morrison thinking, how good is a holiday with the family in Hawaii?

NOW is the time that we need to reconsider the way we manage the outbreak of bush fires in our warming and drought-fuelled environment.

All states and territories are reliant upon the extremely brave army of local volunteers, many of whom are aged. Whilst their gallant efforts are very much appreciated, they cannot be expected to continue to fight prolonged fires in such exhausting conditions. It seems that today's fires are hotter and more difficult to contain. Some fires have been burning for months with no end in sight. I believe we need our defence forces to step up and play a much more involved role in firefighting.

I assume that most of our soldiers are young and fit. The army has heavy earth-moving equipment which could be deployed to create fire breaks, and the air force has the aircraft to attack the fires from the air. Naturally there would be some training involved. I propose that Rural Fire Service should be the initial response authority, and then the Australian Defence Force should take command of the event, particularly in the case of long-running fires. In so doing, the pressure would be taken off the shoulders of volunteers and they would be less fatigued. I'm sure that their employers', who allow the volunteers to be absent, would also welcome their return to the workforce.

I understand that drastic changes will not happen overnight, but surely governments must be thinking about how they can better tackle these catastrophic events.

RAY Holliday raises some interesting points in his letter (Letters, 13/12). An article on The Conversation outlining "how humans derailed the earth's climate in 150 years" explains the role of greenhouse gases and their effects on global temperatures.

The article explains two greenhouse gases provide most of the greenhouse effect; water vapour, about 70 per cent, and carbon dioxide, up to 30 per cent. But carbon dioxide has overall warming power that water vapour doesn't. Water vapour in the atmosphere has a very short residence time (from hours to days) and its concentration can only increase if temperatures increase. Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, lingers in the atmosphere for 100 years and its concentration is not solely controlled by temperature.

Carbon dioxide can, therefore, trigger warming. If its concentration increases the average temperature, regardless of its own trend, will increase too. Since the 1970s, predictions of atmospheric temperature rise based on carbon dioxide levels have generally shown good correlation.

FIRSTLY I would like to say I have nothing against cyclists in general. After all, I once was one myself, although we called them push bikes then. Now, though, we have these lycra-clad warriors on our roads.

The other day I was stopped at the traffic lights and a Peloton Pete came up my left hand side. He seemed to have his feet locked onto the pedals somehow and could not put one down to balance so he reached out and grabbed my rear-view mirror. I resisted the temptation to operate my windscreen washers and sat there thinking what to do.

When the lights changed, he pushed off and wobbled over in front of me so I paused while he cleared the area. This annoyed the motorist behind me and he sounded his horn. Since then, I have been studying these people.

Maybe we should consider registration and licencing for cyclists. Ah well, I might just pull out my old Malvern Star and go for a spin.

NOW that Mr Morrison has cancelled his holidays I believe it is only appropriate that journalists and media personalities do the same. I think, however, they would be more hindrance than help. It would also be a good time for all those children striking for climate change to go on strike over Christmas and New Year. As many are not Christian anyway, it should not matter. Twits on Twitter could join them too.

THE prime minister's press conference at RFS headquarters was a rambling cavalcade of patronising motherhood statements, meaningless waffle and rank hypocrisy. Having made a career out of division and partisan point-scoring, he lectures us about unity. The rightful anger about his Hawaii holiday is dismissed as "anxiety". Climate change again receives lip service. This is a man who I think struggles under pressure and resents being held accountable.

PETER Devey and Brad Hill (Short Takes, 21/12), wise counsel is taking note of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's vast information on change, over 20-25 years. The body goes about its business checking on nature worldwide for the sake of the health of US commerce. The information is hard fact. Not even the Greens have the power to make our once, fire-free and moist rainforests so flammable and dry. I believe there are endless wildfires to come, worsening all the time due to rising temperatures and rising evaporation rates. The last words on unmanageable fires go to Victor Steffensen and Greg Mullins - experts, the wise counsel.

NEWCASTLE punters were, in the space of seven days, lucky enough to witness two of Australia's finest guitarists recently. Up and comer Ray Beadle is destined for great things. Hopefully he reaches the heights of his contemporary, the living legend Kevin Borich. Thanks to the Stag and Hunter for hosting such royalty.

JUDGING by Kerry Redman's apparent jubilation at the national unemployment and financial figures (Short Takes, 21/12) they must be in a pretty comfortable position to get excited over that. I bet the people at the Salvos and other charities that are crying out for help to manage the ever-increasing demand being placed on them aren't celebrating, I bet those that do have some sort of a job but can't make ends meet and look like losing their house aren't singing with praise. When one hour of work takes you out of the unemployment figures, do you really think that is a true indication?

IT'S always encouraging to get feedback from some of the letters one writes, but I feel Adz Carter (Short Takes, 21/12) is quite a bit off the mark. The subject of my letter (Letters, 17/12) was purely the poor upkeep of our local footpaths and the clean light rail system, nothing to do with the entertainment venues in the east. However, in true festive spirit may I wish Adz a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.