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The Australian Firefighter I 1

CAMPAIGN | BUY LOCAL | PRESUMPTIVE | WILDLIFE | HEALTH POLICY

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VOL 47 ISSUE 1 2010 The Australian Firefighter

4 Contacts

5 Editorial

6 International news

7 National news

8–15 Branch news

16–19 Cover story

20 Presumptive

21 Muscular Dystrophy

22–23 NCOM gallery

24–25 Buy Local

26–27 Vic Campaign

28–29 Power Plays

30–31 The Insider

32–33 Men’s health policy

34–35 Wildlife protection

36–37 Winter warmers

38–39 River reverie

40–41 Revolution

42 The last word

CONTENTS

WorKFronT CAMpAIGn 26

Cover sTorY 16

ONE FIRE SERVICEMORE FIREFIGHTERS

WorKFronT proTeCTIon 24

BUY LOCAL

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

WorKFronT sAFeTY 20

PRESUMPTIVEEXPLAINED

THe InsIder 30

RIVERS

REVOLUTION OR JUSTREVOLTING?

LIFe pLAY 40

NATIONAL POLICY

LIFe HeALTH 32

CAMPAIGNTRAIL


4 I The Australian Firefighter

National

website: ufua.asn.au

Australian Capital Territory Branch

secretary: Jason Jones

Unions ACT, 189 Flemington road

Mitchell ACT 2911

ph: 02 6175 3434

Aviation Branch

secretary: Mick Farrell

86A o’shanassy st, sunbury vIC 3429

ph: (03) 9746 3722 Fax: (03) 9746 3766

New South Wales Branch

secretary: Chris read

1–7 Belmore street, surry Hills nsW 2010

ph: (02) 9218 3444 Fax: (02) 9218 3488

Queensland Branch

Acting secretary: John oliver

Level 1, 286 Montague rd, West end oLd 4101

ph: (07) 3844 0366 Fax: (07) 3844 0367

South Australian Branch

secretary: Greg northcott

148 south rd, Torrensville sA 5031

ph: (08) 8352 7211 Fax: (08) 8234 1031

Victorian Branch

secretary: peter Marshall

410 Brunswick st, Fitzroy vIC 3065

ph: 03 94198811 Fax: 03 9419 9258

Tasmanian Branch

secretary: richard Warwick

379 elizabeth st, north Hobart TAs 7000

ph: (03) 6234 9331 Fax: (03) 6234 9505

Western Australian Branch

secretary: Graeme Geer

21 view st, north perth WA 6006

ph: (08) 9228 8122 Fax: (08) 9227 7822

The Australian Firefighter Magazine

410 Brunswick st, Fitzroy vIC 3065

editor: dave Lane

email: [email protected]

design: studio pazzo pty Ltd

mob: 0418504642

pre publishing: splittingimage.com.au

Cover design: Andrew Cunningham

Cover pic: AAp image /Alan porritt

Advertising and publishing

Austral Media Group Ltd ACn 068 899 696

63–71 Boundary rd, north Melbourne vIC 3051

ph: (03) 9328 4226 Fax: (03) 9329 4633

Contributors

We welcome your contributions to The Australian Firefighter Magazine. Make it a letter, story, column, feature or even just an idea. send us you photographs too, but make them a minimum of 120mm x 80mm at 300dpi. We like travel and workplace stories, as well as personal profiles. email all to [email protected]

Authorised by p Marshall 410 Brunswick st, Fitzroy vIC 3065

All material in The Australian Firefighter magazine is subject to copyright and cannot be published or reproduced without permission.

opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, the United Firefighters Union of Australia, or the publisher.

Contributions are accepted on the basis that the material is accurate and not defamatory. no responsibility is accepted for error or omission and every effort is made to verify submitted material.

It is not possible for the publishers of The Australian Firefighter to ensure that advertisements published in the magazine comply with all aspects of the Trade practices Act 1974; that responsibility rests with the person, company, or advertising agency submitting material for publication.

PRINT POST APPROVED PP 543 451/00009

United Firefighters Union of Australia

Advertising: Advertisements in the publication are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations, other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.

not a phone list: It is the desire of the publishers that the Australian Firefighter Buying Guide be used for the benefit of its members and valued sponsors. Therefore we ask you to respect the intention of the Australian Firefighter Buying Guide and not to use it for the purposes of telemarketing and soliciting of donations. Any person, group or company who decides to use the directory in this way is deemed as having accepted the following rates and becomes legally liable to pay these amounts:

1. An amount of $20.000 to a charity nominated by the publisher for the use of the directory as a mailing list,

2. An amount of $50,000 to a charity nominated by the publisher for the use of the directory as a telemarketing list.

National Office ufua.asn.au

Australian Capital Territory Branch ufuact.asn.au

Aviation Branch ufuav.asn.au

NSW Branch fbeu.net

Queensland Branch ufuq.asn.au

Tasmania Branch ufutas.asn.au

Victorian Branch ufuvic.asn.au

West Australian Branch ufuofwa.net.au

National Secretary peter Marshall

National President Mick Farrell

CONTACTS United Firefighters Union of Australia

United Firefighters Union of Australia


As daily temperatures drop across the continent, the political temperature is on the rise. A federal election will soon be upon us and this gives firefighters an ideal opportunity to

campaign on a number of issues that have direct impact on our working lives, health, safety and the protection we provide to the communities we serve.

The current national political climate is one that can work in favour of firefighters, the UFUA and the Australian Union movement right across the board. The government is under pressure from the coalition, it has suffered a number of self inflicted wounds and voter support is drifting to minor parties. This has created an ideal campaign environment and firefighters are taking the opportunity to press our demands vigorously.

With the overhaul of Australia’s Award system well underway, a review of awards and agreements covering public sector fire authority employees will be conducted this year. The government likes to call its streamlining of the system Award ‘modernisation’; the Union movement is not so sure that’s the correct word for it.

After the decade of Howard government attacks on workplace rights and trade unions, Unionists can be pleased with a number of protections the rudd government has introduced as part of its FairWork industrial relations package. However as always, the devil is in the detail and the government’s version of flexibility could have serious consequences for firefighter staffing, rosters and hours of work. All UFUA branches will be campaigning together very strongly to ensure firefighter safety and our ability to respond quickly to emergencies is not compromised by federal government mandated Award inclusions.

Members’ conditions are protected most effectively in collective agreements negotiated between the Union and Fire services. That’s why the review of agreements by FairWork Australia (the national industrial relations body that replaced the Industrial relations Commission and Howard era Ir instruments) is a critical opportunity to press home the point that that our rosters and staffing levels are key to firefighter and community safety.

PETER MARSHALL ■

From the National Secretary

Welcome to this new edition of The Australian Firefighter. There can be no argument that a firefighter’s work environment is more dangerous than any other

civilian workplace; that’s why the UFUA places a primary focus on occupational health and safety issues. And it’s the rudd government’s program to replace state and territory based oH&s laws with a national set of standards that’s another election year issue getting firefighters out on the campaign trail.

The federal ‘harmonisation’ of oH&s regulation is designed to streamline the laws, make them more consistent and reduce bureaucracy. However, the current draft is a worry to the Union

movement because it looks like the government is going for a lowest common denominator solution when instead it should be picking the best from each jurisdiction. We detail the issues at stake in this edition of the magazine.

The cover story examines the victorian Bushfires’ royal Commission and the UFU victorian Branch’s submission for a restructure of the state’s fire services.

While the royal Commission is yet to deliver its final report, it seems likely that its recommendations will not only reverberate throughout victoria but will have major implications for fire and emergency service management structures and practices right across the country.

The oH&s theme continues with a contribution from Queensland

Branch president steve Bunney on presumptive laws for firefighters who

contract workplace diseases such as cancer. steve is the UFUA’s presumptive Laws national officer and he provides valuable advice about protection against exposures that can trigger some of these deadly diseases.

We also ask the question, do you know where your work gear is made – and does it matter? At the March nCoM meeting in perth, delegates heard from a local manufacturer of ppC and other firefighter, emergency worker and military clothing about why firefighters should demand locally sourced product. There could be definite value in raising a few questions when your management prepares the tender for the next issue of new uniforms or replacement gear.

MICk FARRELL ■

From the National President

EDITORIAL

UFUA National Secretary Peter Marshall and National President Mick Farrell at the March NCOM meeting in Perth


Global Alliance on trackA phone hook-up of Unions that make up the International Fire Fighter Unions Alliance (IFFUA) was held in late May and representatives agreed to a number of measures to move the Alliance and its activities forward.

“We’ve approved a new budget and a plan to strengthen the communications links between the Unions and our Members around the world,” says UFUA national secretary, peter Marshall. “The IFFUA website will be completed soon and a newsletter will be produced to circulate among member Unions.”

No bordersIn a world dominated by the international financial meltdown, planet-wide climate change, the threat of pandemics and growing violence, the strength has to be in global unity. “These issues don’t recognise territorial borders,” says peter, “That’s why it’s so important for Australian firefighters and the Union to strengthen our international links and build campaigns to protect the workplace rights and safety of firefighters wherever they may be.”

The UFUA is one of four firefighter Unions representing more than 350,000 members in five countries that joined forces as IFFUA back in 2006. “We then commissioned an investigation that identified another 70 Unions or so around the world that represent firefighters,” says peter. “And from this we’ve been able to expand our contacts.”

MD support The Union is helping firefighters build a new initiative to support those struck down by muscular dystrophy – and their families. on page 21, you can find out more about how firefighters will support the Muscular dystrophy Foundation of Australia (MdFA) during its June awareness raising visit of veteran comedian and actor Jerry Lewis.

“I encourage Members to go to the website of our global partner, the IAFF*, and view some of the activities that have been

GLOBAL ALLIANCEFind out more about the International Alliance of Fire Fighter Unions from the website at iffua.org

undertaken by firefighters in north America and Canada in raising money and building awareness about muscular dystrophy,” says peter Marshall. “As you will see, IAFF firefighting members have a long and proud history of fundraising for the Us and Canadian Muscular dystrophy Association (MdA) which has accumulated into many millions of dollars over a number of years.”

Local visitJerry Lewis is the patron of MdA and has a very close working relationship with north American firefighters and their Union. one fundraising event undertaken each year is a 24-hour phone-in marathon but this is just one of numerous events, many of which are organised at local fire station level.

“Jerry Lewis will be visiting Australia in the latter half of June,” says peter. “We’ll be meeting with him to further explore and understand the relationship he has with

the IAFF and firefighters in north America. We’ll be also working with MdFA to assist in Mr Lewis’ public appearances during his visit, and to develop more Australian Md awareness and fundraising projects.”

Pensions and presumptive A federal review of retirement systems is being conducted in Canada, and the north American firefighter Union, the IAFF has produced a submission emphasising that due to the dangerous nature of the profession and the unique nature of

retirements, professional firefighters should have access to reduced benefits at age 55 and unreduced benefits at age 60. This is five years earlier than other workers. In May, proposed amendments to the Canada pension plan (Cpp) were announced; consultation about the changes continues.

Cancer coverThe Canadian province of Alberta will now cover compensation claims for 10 types of occupation related cancer which firefighters are in heightened danger of contracting. In May, the provincial legislature passed a new law that increases the cancer types covered by its presumptive laws from eight to 10; the additions include oesophagus and testicular cancers. Alberta’s new legislation brings the province into line with the coverage in other Canadian jurisdictions.

While the laws vary greatly between states and provinces, most Us states and Canadian provinces now have some form of presumptive law covering firefighters and emergency response workers. ■

* The IAFF MDA page is at iaff.org/mda/index.asp

North American firefighters and their Union raise millions to support muscular dystrophy sufferers

and their families.

A strong international alliance of firefighter Unions is key to the protection of firefighters in every corner

of the globe pic: stockxchng_jzlomek

NEWSINTERNATIONAL


Award updateThe overhaul of Australia’s Award system is well underway. In the end, more than 4,000 state and federal awards will be collapsed into 130 ‘modern’ awards.

In december last year, the Industrial relations Commission ruled on a new national firefighting services award, the Firefighting Industry Award 2010. Following the decision, there have been some questions raised about this new award by firefighters in new south Wales.

“Concerns about the position of nsW retained firefighters and their conditions of employment are unfounded,” says UFUA national secretary peter Marshall. “The award does not apply to nsW Fire Brigade retained employees because they are employed in the public sector and are covered by the state industrial relations system.”

All togetherAlong with all other state and territory firefighters, nsW colleagues will be included in the review of awards and agreements covering public sector fire authorities to be conducted as part of the Award modernisation process later in the year.

“We’ll be all in it together when this review begins – and we can expect the employers will mount a vigorous attack on staffing, rosters and other conditions that protect firefighters at work,” says peter Marshall. “our Union’s branches will be working closely together to ensure no firefighter in any state or territory will be put at a disadvantage.”

Harmony for whomoriginally a Howard era initiative, the proposal was to replace state and territory based occupational health and safety laws with a national set of standards. The states agreed to a review and the process continued with the election of the rudd Labor government.

However, after a draft set of laws was circulated, the Union movement began to wonder who would benefit most from this new approach to oHs.

“The stakes are high - more than 150 people died in work-related incidents last year,” says UFUA national president Mick Farrell. “so naturally, Unions are campaigning to ensure oHs laws are strengthened in every jurisdiction, not watered down anywhere.”

no one objects to streamlining and the reduction of bureaucracy but the proposal as it stands has more losses than gains for workers and Unions. While the rights and powers of nsW H&s reps will improve, the ability of Unions to prosecute over oHs breaches will go, as will the reverse onus of proof. Queensland workers will lose their Workplace safety officers and also the reverse onus of proof, with less onerous obligations being imposed on employers.

oHs rights and obligations will increase the number of people killed and injured at work,” says Mick Farrell. “The review of oHs law should be an opportunity to adopt the best, not compromise what we’ve already achieved.”

And who pays for workplace health and safety neglect? overwhelmingly, the cost is borne by workers and the community; latest available figures indicate employers contribute only 3% to the total cost (Australian safety and Compensation Council report).

UFUA NATIONALNational President: Mick FarrellBranch Secretary: Peter MarshallWebsite: ufua.asn.auemail: [email protected]

NATIONAL

Federal OHS laws need to strengthen not weaken workplace protection pic:warrenfrey/tas

Paid parental leave for all – in this year’s federal budget

The best required Unions say the ability to initiate prosecutions should be available Australia wide and the reverse onus of proof be extended to all jurisdictions. A provision allowing for the disqualification of H&s reps and the watering down of the obligation on employers to consult about oHs matters are also concerns.

“We believe any diminishing of existing

Super ideasThe UFUA national Women’s network is reconvening this year. parental leave, back-to-work provisions, conflict resolution, harassment and eeo are major issues requiring input from both male and female firefighters. The network does not adopt an ‘us and them’ approach; much of its work ends up benefiting all firefighters.

employer superannuation contributions will increase following changes announced in this year’s federal budget. The boost won’t begin until 2013 but by 2020 the superannuation guarantee will be 12%, up three from the current 9%. That’s if the government’s budget strategy survives the campaign against its mining industry super profits tax.

paid parental leave is another initiative in the federal budget. From next year, eligible parents will receive taxable payments at the rate of the federal minimum wage for up to 18 weeks, paid for by the government, not employers. ■


for three days a week. dave has been working hard on the CA, as well as developing a sound industrial program for our branch. The main aspect of this will be the d&d+vers scheme, which dave will be working on after the CA is finalised.

The scheme is being developed to address the serious shortfall in our Members’ ability to access income protection insurance and life insurance. Most insurance companies charge career firefighters triple their normal public servant premiums. Most won't sell income protection insurance to career firefighters at all, while the few that do, charge exorbitant premiums. They say it is too expensive to pay injured firefighters because of the impact of even a minor injury on a Member being fit for duty.

Significant benefitsThe d&d+vers will be a co-contributed scheme where Members contribute a percentage of their income every fortnight, matched a matching, employer paid percentage of the total wages bill. Members will be able to access money when they are injured (non-compensable injuries only), while lump-sum payments will be made to Members (or their families) following permanent injury or death.

Early retirementMembers who contribute across the life of their career will have the option of retirement up to five years early with their full wage paid until retirement benefits kick in. This will reduce the strain on firies at the end of their career and give them the opportunity to enjoy a long and fruitful retirement. There's an added employer benefit of workers compensation costs dropping off before a firefighter's likely injury peak (the last five years of their career).

The d&d+vers scheme will fix a massive shortfall in protection for our Members for a fraction of the cost of life insurance or income protection insurance. similar schemes work in nsW and sA, and we will be borrowing heavily from them. We are still in the planning stage so it may not end up exactly as described. However, we are confident that with a lot of hard work and support from Members, we will develop the best scheme possible for ACT firefighters.

Interesting times are ahead for all Australian firefighters and we look forward to continuing to work with all branches to further the interests of our Members.Yours in Unity,ACT Branch Committee of Management ■

UFU ACT BRANCHBranch President: Matthew MavityBranch Secretary: Jason JonesWebsite: ufuact.asn.auemail: [email protected]

Hard bargainThe last few months have been busy ones for the ACT Branch. our Collective Agreement (CA) negotiations will draw to a close over the next few weeks after what has been a fairly difficult and drawn out process. Most of you negotiating CAs over the past 12 months will know that the economic downturn and the subsequent tightening of the purse strings has made for exceptionally difficult circumstances for improving wages and conditions, particularly when bargaining with government.

The ACT Government approached our negotiations (and negotiations with all ACT Unions) complaining of a $65 million hole in their budget caused by the Federal Labor Government's review of GsT state and territory revenue streams. This cut ACT Government GsT revenue almost in half and they immediately called on Unions for wage restraint.

very early in the piece, they started attacking us all in the media, claiming that our wage claims were irresponsible and exorbitant. other Unions are seeking relief in FairWork Australia and we have comm-enced proceedings to take protected industrial action.

Gains madedespite all of this, we have had substantial negotiating success. We have maintained the focus on tidying up our agreement and improving Members’ capacity to access their entitlements. The pay rise is likely to be in line with CpI or slightly higher and we have firmed a commitment from ACT Government to work with us to develop a death and disability plus voluntary early retirement (d&d+vers) scheme over the life of our agreement.

With the weight of a fully unionised workforce behind us, we successfully fought off attempts from the government to reduce access to 100% compensation for workplace injuries, deteriorate the 10/14 roster and cut our entitlement to annual leave and personal leave. so despite the difficult economic times, we have come through with a reasonable outcome with our CA.

Industrial supportIn a first for the ACT Branch, we have employed Industrial officer dave Livingstone,

NEWSACT BRANCH

D&D+VERS = valuable extra support across a tough career


Aerial woesThe debate between ArFF management and the union surrounding the introduction of the Morita Aerial specialist vehicle (Asv) at Category 10 stations around Australia has been in progress for nearly two years.

This eventuated in a Fair Work Australia (FWA) hearing, including an on site inspection by Commissioner smith being conducted in May. All that attended witnessed a demonstration of the Morita(Asv) at Melbourne airport ArFF fire station.

The result highlighted a number of the concerns that the Union has put to ArFF management over time regarding the operation of this vehicle. The Morita is designed as a rescue ladder or to be used in what is known as a ‘surround and drown’ technique where water is discharged through a monitor at a distance from an incident to combat a fire. However, it was not designed for the way the ArFF now uses the vehicle.

Firefighting aerial specialists tell the Union that no other fire service in the country would consider mounting an aerial internal firefighting attack from a basket using hose bowled backwards down a ladder. The ArFF is currently using the Morita to do just this and we believe it is unsafe and will leave our Members dangerously exposed – and at risk.

Training, quals, safetyWhen ArFF introduced the Morita, firefighters were trained by personnel who were not qualified in aerial vehicle operations. After approaches by the Union, the ArFF trained staff to gain an ‘elevated Work platform’

(eWp) licence. This is a basic licence formulated for general application, such as in the construction trade. Although it does form part of the relevant fire service training required for firefighters to perform aerial operations, the applicable ArFF qualification system in this area is the ‘public safety Training package’ (psTp); the relevant module is pUAFIr310B, ‘operate Aerial or specialist vehicle’.

However, there are no ArFF firefighters at Melbourne who hold this qualification and so the Union believes those who instruct and those who operate the vehicle do so without the necessary firefighting qualifications.

This means Members are at risk when operating the Morita at an aircraft accident or incident. not only is there a lack of suitably qualified trainers, but Morita training has been ad hoc, spasmodic and lacking the necessary support materials when it does occur.

Hose bowl issueThe Union has other safety concerns about how the vehicle is deployed by the ArFF. These include:- firefighters must turn their back on the

incident (most likely in poor visibility) while bowling the hose down the middle of the ladder section during set-up,

- misdirected hose and tangling,- hose regularly fouls on the ladder rungs

preventing immediate deployment of hose,- hose(s) bowled back down the ladder

centre blocks access for other firefighters,- inadequate water curtain and no heat

shield on the basket, and- time wasting, inefficient hose hook-up

requirements.Firefighters, the Union and the

Commissioner witnessed many of these problems during that training exercise we attended.

Exposure levels highFurther, issues with the ArrF use of the Morita vehicle include:- outdated body belt worn to attach

firefighters to the basket,- no easy access to BA connections or spare

cylinders for firefighters on the rig, and- poor communications equipment.

Morita operators are expected to deal with theses problems often when 10–15 metres above the ground. We are also concerned about the overall high level of exposure for crews; the basket is quite open and firefighters are far too exposed to possible flashovers or fireballs.

The UFUA has submitted a list of fixes to the ArFF. In the meantime, the Union has advised management it should stop the practice of bowling the hose backwards down the ladder rungs and mounting internal firefighting attack from the basket. Following appropriate training, the Morita should be used only for rescue/escape or for a remote aerial firefighting attack until successful engineering solutions are implemented. MICk FARRELLAviation Branch Secretary ■

UFUA AVIATION BRANCHAviation Branch President: Joe StenhouseAviation Branch Secretary: Mick FarrellWebsite: http ://ufuav.asn.auemail: [email protected]

The Morita Aerial Specialist Vehicle

Unintended uses – the ARFF Morita issue

AVIATION BRANCH

Mock-up no help nowThe ArFF has recently advised that a purpose-built mock-up will be constructed to provide realistic training; but this – and the rushed and inadequate training to date – does nothing to assist firefighters who are currently expected to operate the vehicle in an emergency.

Unfortunately, there’s more. staff who the ArFF view as qualified Morita operators have never actually bowled hose down the ladder from the basket and advanced into a structure such as an A380. so, the theory management relies on – that two firefighters can successfully deploy enough lengths of hose from the Morita basket to reach the interior extremities of an A380 aircraft – has not been tested.


National Award The handing down of a new national firefighting services award by the Industrial relations Commission (now FairWork Australia) will not affect nsW firefighters employed in the public sector. despite some questions raised about the position of retained Members, it is clear the federal Firefighting Industry Award 2010 will have no impact on firefighters employed in the public sector as they are covered by the state industrial relations system.

The new Award is a private sector award and includes mandated clauses that are being imposed on all national awards as part of the rudd government’s industrial relations changes. The process is called Award ‘modernisation’ and eventually, national awards will replace most state and territory based industrial arrangements.

Firefighters who are currently covered by an enterprise or collective agreement are also protected from Firefighting Industry Award 2010 clauses that have been imposed by the federal government.

A review of awards and agreements covering public sector fire authorities is to be conducted as part of the Award ‘modernisation’ process later in the year.

Bypass not onManagement continue their attempts at job restructuring, calculating somewhat naively that they can complete the exercise without talking to firefighters or the Union.

Media leaks and the rumour mill are no substitutes for genuine talks; it’s time management caught up with the fact that John Howard left the stadium more than two years ago and the obligation on employers to bargain and talk to Unions and Members is back.

A well oiled machinenot! Incident Ground Health Monitoring (IGHM) should be planned and effectively structured. The current approach by management can’t provide what’s required – and that’s a consistent, practical program that’s able to provide protection for all Members. Firefighters right across the state are entitled to an IGHM program that works, not a hit-and-miss approach that’s under

resourced. It’s important management has more than the workers comp premiums in mind when designing and implementing such a program – the d&d Award demands it.

Magnetic miscalculationsafety at work is paramount; but a departmental answer to traffic hazards has come unstuck – even before it could be put in place. The issue of 40 kph advisory, ‘slow when lights flashing’ signs to help protect Members at road and traffic incidents was followed by advice to stick them on the back of appliances when required. They even come with magnets – to help fix them to the aluminium panels of the vehicles. It seems someone wasn’t paying attention in science class at school.

A lack of guidance about displaying 40 kph and / or Hazards Ahead signs isn’t helpful either. For a start, two separate signs would help. protection of crews is paramount and vehicles should be positioned to maximise this. It’s up to the police or rTA to handle any resulting traffic management requirements.

Back to the Full Bench That was the reaction of the Industrial relations Commission when the department appeared before it over a refusal to observe an agreement about recruit training made back in 2008. The deal was to reduce training by four weeks or pay recruit Members at the rate of FL1 after 12 weeks. recruit

members should not be penalised because of dithering by the department. perhaps the judge thought so too, as the matter will now go back to the Full Bench for decision.

Not tellingManagement left it to the Union to tell station officer promotional program (sopp) participants that not all would be promoted at the end of the last six week training round. In november, management told the Industrial relations Commission and the Union that from the start of this year, improvements in its approach to workforce planning would ensure the promotion of sopp graduates immediately after the completion of the program.

When the Union brought the dispute back before IrC it recommended all graduates from Class 27 be promoted to station officer Level 1 within 12 weeks and to station officer Level 2 in two years. At the start of september, there’s to be a report back to the IrC on plans for the next program – and a resolution to this dispute. PETER MARSHALLUFUA National SecretaryMICk FARRELLUFUA National President ■

NEWSNSW BRANCH

UFU NSW BRANCHBranch Secretary: Chris ReadWebsite: http://fbeu.netEmail: [email protected]

OH&S Alert is the UFUA national health and safety newsletter. Subscribe at ufua.asn.au to have each edition delivered to your email inbox

A hanging issue – magnets and aluminium vehicle panels


Under new managementWith a new management team in office, the Qld branch has hit the floor running. our employers have been reminded on numerous occasions that there is a new management team in office at the UFUQ and things are being handled a little differently in this office from now on.

Given the impediments that we faced earlier in the year, as your president it is heartening to see our Union pick itself up off the floor and get down to the nuts and bolts of our business, which is working for YoU, our Members. Members will realise that this new team does things a little differently now. our office staff have adjusted well to a new management team and embraced a different management style in the running of the office. I believe the results are starting to speak for themselves.

Code RedWe are keeping true to our promise and working hard to improve communications with our Members. The Acting state secretary recently introduced a new Code Red information bulletin for Members. The newsletter will only be used as communication to Members when serious issues such as bans, industrial action etc. are being put into place by the Union, ensuring there is no confusion on directives. It’s imperative that any issue of a Code Red is read out at all musters and relayed to all shifts. It’s just one more way of cutting out the confusion.

Firefighter assaultsThere has been a marked increase in reported assaults on firefighters while carrying out their duty. The UFU has been totally supportive of our Members who have been the recipients of such attacks and any type of verbal abuse or physical threat or actual harm upon any of our Members will

not be tolerated. We suspect there are more occurrences of this type which are going unreported by our Members. We need to change that mindset and take affirmative action. Any such attack upon our Members will result in swift and decisive action from the UFUQ. We will ensure the full force of the law is enacted upon any person whom feels stupid enough to take cheap shots at firefighters who are just doing their job.

Diesel exhaust emissions The employer has agreed to conduct a survey at all fire stations in Queensland and discuss with the UFU suitable outcomes for the management of diesel exhaust emissions within the identified fire stations. Members are asked to please contact your regional delegates with your concerns so that they may liaise with the state office for action.

Start of shift checksThese are also currently under review and negotiations are being held with the employer to deliver a suitable and safe outcome for our Members when undertaking these tasks.

OHS issues our occupational Health and safety officer has ensured that the UFU will be represented on all committees by an authorised UFU delegate and that, as a priority, there must be full and meaningful consultation to ensure acceptable outcomes are achieved.

other oHs issues currently being addressed include:- turnout ensemble: going to tender, - helmets: expression of interests are being

called for, and- fit for duty: discussions are being held on

involvement.

Labour Day award At the recent Qld Council of Unions’ Labour day dinner, the UFU Qld Branch received the ‘Best Industrial Campaign in a Workplace’ award for the ‘Firefighters save our Lives

now Who’s saving Theirs?’ campaign. our campaign of highlighting to politicians

at all levels of government, our employers – and of course our very own Members – about diseases and illness that effect firefighters has led to the recognition and understanding at a higher level of management, and caused significant changes to historical work practice for firefighters.

Up against significantly larger unions, this is a major award for the UFUQ and is just-ifiable recognition for our efforts. It is further evidence of our Union punching well above its weight.

UFUA QUEENSLAND BRANCHBranch President: Steve BunneyActing Branch Secretary: John OliverWebsite: ufuq.asn.auemail: [email protected]

QLD BRANCH

UFUQ Members turned out in strength for the 2010 May Day march

Queensland firefighters on the march – 2010 May Day parade in Brisbane

The UFUQ new look Code Red bulletin – ensuring no confusion on directives

Finally, what a fantastic Labour day! To all our Members and their families who celebrated our Union’s existence and shared in the pride of marching the city streets of Brisbane, I say thank you all. To our chief Labour day organiser Glenys, how could we do it without you? To our helpers, our fantastic office staff, to Chris and pete who sweated it out on the bbqs, and my family who pitched in wherever needed. I was inundated with remarks about what a fantastic day was had by all. so a big Thank You to everyone, and let’s make next Labour day even better.

STEVE BUNNEYState President UFUQ branch ■


Adelaide’s 38th – Seaford fire station is now open

Seaford two bay openson saturday February 13, the thirty eighth MFs station opened in the Adelaide southern suburb seaford. The new station is the southern most metropolitan station, and is an industry and Australian leader in energy efficiency and green design.

The station was formally opened by Minister for emergency services the Hon. Michael Wright Mp. In attendance were the Hon. John Hill Minister for the southern suburbs and state local member, Amanda rishworth, Federal Member for Kingston, as well as representatives of local government and community organisations.

seaford is a bustling development in the southern fringe of metropolitan Adelaide, and the new $4.5 million station will serve the community for decades to come, with a projected useful life for the station being a minimum fifty years.

The commissioning of the station has seen 22 crew moved to seaford, and resulted in an extra recruit drill squad in 2009. Among

UFUA SA BRANCHBranch President: Barry Luke Branch Secretary: Greg Northcott Website: ufusa.asn.auemail: [email protected]

NEWSSA BRANCH

also the materials used such as internal polished brick, reduce the frequency and cost of ongoing maintenance for the facility, and

- the station is capable of housing a second appliance and crew to cope with future expansion.This new station at seaford is the fifth

evolution of the new MFs ‘two appliance bay’ fire station designs to be constructed following elizabeth, Golden Grove, Beulah park and paradise. each of these stations has had a Union nominated representative from the station who, through consultation with the previously built station representative, has identified and implemented design improvements.

With regard to seaford, improvements have been made in the food preparation area, making it more user friendly. The Union fully supports and acknowledges that this consultative process the s.A. Metropolitan Fire

service is using when designing and building new stations is benefiting all. ■

some of the key design and environmental features of the station are:- photovoltaic solar panels providing 12

kilowatts of power are installed and grid connected, enabling any surplus power generated to be returned to the electricity network,

- water recycling initiatives including the

UFUA SA Branch Secretary Greg Northcott (r) attended the Seaford FS opening along with (l-r), the Federal Member for kingston Amanda Rishworth, Joe Szakacs

UFU SA Industrial Officer, SA Branch President Barry Luke and Southern Suburbs Minister (and local member), John Hill and state Emergency Services Minister Michael Wright

use of rainwater for both garden irrigation and in toilets are incorporated into the building,

- the layout maximises the use of natural light and ventilation and has a high thermal-energy rating to reduce the requirements on heating and cooling;


TAS BRANCH

redeployment within each agency. “Medical retirement options are also an important area for the government to do some work on,” says richard Warwick. “The tone of the questionnaire response suggests the new government will also take this up with the agencies.”

Fire service specificThe Union also requested the parties respond to a series of further questions about TFs resourcing and fire preparedness across the state. The Labor party indicated a willingness to implement the outstanding recommendations of the 2007 Hobart Myer fire coronial inquest recommendations and those of the victorian Bushfires royal Commission that are relevant to the state.

on other particular resource questions about such areas as the urban / bush interface, the northwest coast, Launceston and the Kingborough municipality, Labor has said it would set up reviews should the government assess the need arises.

“The Union will be keeping the pressure on the new government over resources,” says richard Warwick. “We are encouraged by their promise of additional road accident rescue equipment for Hobart’s northern

The Branch Annual Conference was held just days before the state election: guest speakers from the

major parties attended

Election outcomeTasmania is now ruled by a Labor/Greens coalition after a state election that produced a hung parliament*. Firefighters and the Union are looking forward with optimism to the government now delivering on promises made during the election campaign.

“We’re encouraged by a commitment from the Labor party to keep Tasmanian firefighter wages on par with their mainland counterparts,” says UFUA Tasmanian Branch secretary, richard Warwick.

during the election campaign the Greens committed to support a third, full-time staffed, 24 hour fire station on the northwest coast. “This promise was much appreciated by our Members up there,” says richard. “And we’ll be following that up with the Greens for implementation now they are part of the government.”

Questions answered In the run-up to the election, the Tasmanian Firefighter, Ambulance and police Unions circulated a questionnaire to each major

party canvassing their views on emergency services workers’ wages, staffing levels and Critical Incident stress disorder. In addition to the wages comparability commitment, the Labor party also made promises on staffing levels. “The last thing we want is for the lives of Tasmanian people to be put at risk because we do not have enough staff in a particular area,” the ALp told the Unions. “We will review existing staffing levels across the spectrum of police, fire and ambulance to make sure all areas are appropriately staffed and if not we will commit to improving those staffing levels.”

The party said it will establish a fully staffed, 24 hour helicopter based emergency medical service and recruit 30 additional police. “We anticipate a review will also ident-ify gaps in firefighter numbers and resources that we know exist across the state, particularly in the northwest,” says richard Warwick. “Given their commitments, we look forward to Labor and the Greens rapidly completing the review and filling the gaps.”

Stress disorder supportIn response to the questionnaire, Labor said it will continue to fund the police Critical Incident stress Management Team which also covers fire and ambulance employees and will review its effectiveness. “It’s also good to hear the party that is now the major force in government views rehabilitation of injured employees and their return to work its ‘highest priority’,” says richard.

For those unable to return to work, Labor say it will look into implementing a redeployment system across the whole-of-government in Tasmania. This will go further than the current emergency service agency approach to non-operational duties

UFUA TASMANIAN BRANCHBranch President: Vincent MalesBranch Secretary: Richard WarwickWebsite: ufutas.asn.auemail: [email protected]

Workplace reps (l-r) John Hardstaff (Branch Junior Vice President), Steven Davison and Martin Sloane

at the Branch Annual Conference

Reps Justin Smith, David MacFarlane, John McDonald (standing)and Peter Tavasz were

enthusiastic participants

Bargaining roundThe Tasmanian firefighters Collective Agreement with the Tasmanian Fire service (TFs) ends on June 30 and negotiations have begun for a new agreement. It’s a tight budget environment but firefighters are encouraged by commitments given to them by the ALp during the election campaign. “We’ve lodged the claim and hopefully it will be a less confrontational bargaining process than we’ve seen in recent times,” says richard Warwick.

The Labor party promise to keep Tasmanian firefighters wages in line with their mainland counterparts should help. The comparability formula is 100% relativity of the average of the first class firefighter rate in each mainland state and territory. projections across the life of the Tasmanian agreement are then made based on mainland eBs and collective agreements.

suburbs this financial year. But we see that as just a start and we’ll be expecting the government to attend to those other outstanding resource issues promptly.”

The Union will also pressure the Labor/ Greens government to fund an independent review of career firefighter training in the TFs. ■*The Labor/Greens coalition is the first attempted since 1989 when a Labor/Greens accord lasted a little over twelve months before being sunk by the Greens over forests policy.


NEWSVIC BRANCH

EBA campaign bites MFB and CFA firefighters have been campaigning hard for the last six months as negotiations over new collective agreements continue. “our grassroots campaign to build public support for our conditions and resources claims is showing very positive results,” says victorian Branch secretary peter Marshall. “The public understands that their safety and protection depends on firefighters being able to do their job effectively. our ‘save property save Lives’, ‘save 7.7’ and ‘More Firefighters not Less’ messages are hitting their mark.”

despite independent recommendations to boost staff at CFA stations, there was no

deserve our thanks and the encouragement to keep up their efforts. Thanks also to our tireless delegates and staff – we are making progress and we’re now seeing Mps in those marginal seats getting increasingly uncomfortable as the election draws closer.”

Find out more in the campaign report on pages 26 – 27 and in the cover story on pages 16 – 19. ■

CFA working parties The Union’s work with the CFA to resolve of outstanding issues is producing results. It’s now agreed there will be no more sharing of dormitories at Fiskville for firefighters on courses. Air con will also be installed in the dorms. There’s been further clarification to allow Members on residential courses greater flexibility to travel home – and be compensated – if you live within a reasonable travel distance.

The stowage for ppC lockers in turnout areas has been finally agreed; it’s been an outstanding issue since 2003. Geelong City, Belmont, Traralgon and Greenvale stations are the first to be fitted out, while the retrospective fit-out of other integrated stations will be discussed.

Staffing and trainingThe Union has told the CFA that Bendigo, Ballarat City, shepparton, Warrnambool, eltham and Cranbourne’s engine bays will need to be examined regarding the housing of new appliances, e.g. Heavy pumpers, Hazmats, Aerial pumpers and Technical rescue pods. Also, staffing, allowances and training for new Heavy Hazmats and proposed Technical rescue pod need to be discussed and agreed prior to their deployment.

The review of the standard fire station guidelines is underway, capturing the improvements made to fire station design since 2003.

“We’ve also made further gains in negotiations over the CFA Mechanical Maintenance and Tower Overseer enterprise Agreement after Members voted down a proposal back in december,” says peter Marshall. “We’ll be visiting workshops during June to discuss the gains before a further ballot is held.”

National AwardLate last year, the Australian Industrial relations Commission handed down the Firefighting Industry Award 2010. It replaces victorian Firefighting Industry employees Interim Award 2000 and applies from January 2010. In line with federal government policy, the standard flexibility clause (Cl. 7) has been

UFU VIC BRANCHBranch President: Dave HamiltonBranch Secretary: Peter MarshallWebsite: ufuvic.asn.auemail: [email protected]

The UFU’s submission to the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission is delivered to the Commission’s office in Melbourne.

There are at least 24 under-resourced CFA stations, many in the state’s 52 bushfire ‘hot spots’, but

Victorians still wait for government action

Action stations! MFB and CFA firefighters demand resources, roster and crew arrangements to keep

them and the community safe

funding allocation in the recently announced state government budget for 2010–2011. Meanwhile, MFB management wants to abolish the current minimum crew allocation that would see resources and numbers stretched even further – and put pressure on response times.

ProgressThe Bushfires royal Commission will report at the end of July and if the submissions by the Commission’s own legal counsel are anything to go on, many of the issues identified by the Union will feature in its final report. The UFU submission for the restructuring of the state’s fire services and the creation of a single fire service for victoria was delivered to the royal Commission in April.

“We’ve had thousands of Members attend rallies, leaflet communities and campaign in marginal seats over the last few months,” says peter Marshall. “They

included. In the public sector, it applies only if the employee receives payment as if working the 10/14 roster. At least for now, part-time employment has been limited to the private sector.

This means that employees in the public sector must not be disadvantaged in any alternative rostering arrangement. UFU members are currently protected from these provisions by the current enterprise agreement. ■


Resources squeezeIt’s a busy time in the Industrial relations Commission (WAIrC) for the WA Branch. The big hurdle for the Union has been the Fire and emergency services Authority’s continuing attempts to shut the Membership out of decision making. Management says if it sends a letter to the Union then it has consulted.

We believe this is not good faith con-sultation; management should negotiate about what it wants to do and seek input from the Membership about the best way to do it. However, the Authority refuses to do this. This problem runs across every issue that comes between Management and Members.

Peak argumentChronic understaffing and under resourcing at the Communications Centre has been issue in the WAIrC for nearly two years now. staffing levels are not keeping up with the growth of emergencies in WA, because management says the service will never be able to cope with peaks; so it always under-staffs the centre. The Union says management is aiming too low.

To make matter worse, we are seeing an attempt to turn the Comms Centre into a generic centre to look after all types of emergencies, such as storms or sea rescue, anything bar the police. Fortunately, the Authority’s attempts to have our case in the WAIrC dismissed have been rejected, so that’s forced management to keep discussion open.

Skills set tussleThe Union is also in negotiations over agreed competencies for every rank up to superintendant. so far, we have them for Firefighters and station officers, but for ranks above, including Area officer, district officer

and superintendant, management has been stalling and won’t engage in discussion. The Union has gone to the WAIrC about the competencies for Area officers.

We’ve got to get the skills-set right but unfortunately, this gets back to ongoing attempts by management to homogenise our Area officers and create broad management teams for any emergency. We believe this is being driven by the Australasian Fire and emergency service Authorities Council (AFAC) which wants jack-of-all-trades people in place of officers with the appropriate competencies.

InstructorsThe WA Branch is also arguing about the correct classification for our recruit instructors at the training centre. Twenty years ago, they were all at district officer level but over time they’ve been arbitrarily dragged back to Firefighter level. Members say this must be sorted out – they’re sick of the current situation – and want to be classified properly and be paid appropriately.

In the meantime, they’ve decided not to do any further instructing and this has us back in the Commission where the Union finally gained a concession and higher classification during the current recruit school while the Union prepares a Work value claim for Instructors.

Wellington Stproblems at the new perth Fire station remain unresolved but Members have been forced to move in following an order handed down by the Industrial relations Commission.

The engine room at the station is too small and there’s very restricted vision when responding to emergencies, particularly at night. Already, there have been several near misses and we’re concerned the traffic management studies weren’t done properly.

Let’s hope there is not blood on the floor before someone listens and learns that the safety concerns we have are real.

Two from oneIn WA, there’s a push to break up the single fire service into urban and country services, despite the problems this structure approach has produced in other states. We say rural areas are growing to such an extent that their fire services shouldn’t be treated as rural fire services – they are urban fires services just surrounded by bush.

The recent Toodyay fire is a case in point; 38 houses were lost but they still called it a ‘bush’ fire. The Union says, no – that was a ‘38 house’ structural fire. You plan for bushfires out in the bush and once it becomes an urban area, you’ve got to start planning for structure fires – and the Authority is just not doing that.

New OfficeThe Union has moved in to our new office – the old north perth Fire station. Members are thrilled with the purchase of this property and are looking forward to a meeting hall and club house to be added, hopefully starting this year.

our retired firefighters are ecstatic at the prospect of holding functions here rather than going to a local hotel. They’ll be able to come to the Union office and keep the brotherhood alive, passing their stories to the next generation of firefighters (see the pictures on 22–23).

GRAEME GEERBRANCH SECRETARYSee the centre page gallery for pics of the recent WA Office opening celebrations. ■

UFUA WA BRANCHWA Branch President: kevin JollyWA Branch Secretary: Graeme GeerWebsite: ufuofwa.net.auemail: ufuofwa.net.au/contact.html

WA BRANCH

A generic Comms Centre – management must keep talking pic: mike teraci

The squeeze at Perth Fire Station

A two fire services push – planning in the wrong direction pic: mike teraci


Some fifteen months after the Black Saturday disaster, the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission is winding up. The UFU’s Victorian Branch has put a strong case for the amalgamation of Victoria’s fire services to the Commission and continues to pressure the state government to recruit more professional firefighters for dangerously understaffed localities.

The campaign trail leads right back to the heart of Melbourne where, in an astounding move, MFB management wants to cut firefighter on-shift numbers that would see response times blow out with lives and property put at risk.

Summer has gone and the bushfire season might be over but in Victoria, debate over the state’s fire services is really hotting up.


One fire servicemore firefighters

COVER STORY


Ambulance Victoria was created from three ambulance services and it makes sense to do the same for fire services.

The Premier has not been shy about commenting on views put to and by the Commission. An ABC online commentary noted as early as February “the fact that the Premier appears to have already taken a long term view on so many of the questions under investigation

by the Commissioners must leave them scratching their heads.” To date, there’s been no discernable change in John Brumby’s approach.

Mass inefficiencyThe UFU submission to the Royal Commission puts the case for a single fire authority for Victoria. It details the impact of multiple agency (MFB, CFA and DSE) responsibility for the response to, and suppression of, fire across the state. Unnecessary duplication and inefficiencies that have resulted in systemic failures leading to the loss of life and property include:- duplication of costs and different funding arrangements, - different approaches to training, accreditation and endorsement of staff (including training manuals), - different uniforms, rank and insignia, - different safety equipment (including BA), equipment duplication and incompatibility (including hose and pump couplings),- different terminology in relation to fire fighting equipment,- command, control and communications duplication and incompatibility,- numerous and complex MOUs between agencies requiring review and auditing, and

- cultural differences plus irrelevant and outdated territorial boundaries.In contrast, a single fire service, would gain

from increased flexibility, more effective resource allocation and an increased financial base. An expert report by Professor David Hayward from the RMIT University School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning was commissioned by the UFU and presented to the Commission in support of the case for amalgamation.

Times a changingThe CFA currently covers approximately one third of greater Melbourne and the MFB covers the balance.

After the alert call, two volunteer CFA brigades at Plenty and Diamond Creek were paged before the CFA integrated brigade at Eltham. The closest station to the fire was Greensborough, an MFB station about four minutes away, but it wasn’t contacted until 12 to 13 minutes after the initial call.

So what’s behind this approach? Barry Thomas told the Commission “I guess it’s a territory

In April, 2,000 MFB and CFA firefighters marched to the Bushfires Royal Commission in Melbourne’s CBD to hand deliver their

Union’s submission. It was a Wednesday, the same day Christine Nixon, former police chief but now chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, faced the Commission.

CFA Fire Officer Stewart Marshall from Greenvale, near Melbourne airport, told the rally, “On my station, we have myself and two other firefighters to respond to a call, which may range from an alarm to a full blown structure fire, whereas in other parts of this country, seven is the minimum on the fire ground to do the job. In the CFA it can be two!”

Competition problemStewart works in one of Melbourne’s rapidly expanding suburban fringe areas, which along with fast growing provincial towns, are demanding the same protec-tion their neighbours have in the greater metropolitan area of Melbourne.

The tragedy of the Black Saturday bushfires in February last year revealed systemic failures in communication and coordination between the MFB, CFA and DSE (Department of Sustainability and Environment) hierarchies. Again, it exposed the competition over territory that exists between the three authorities.

While Melbourne’s established inner suburbs have 24/7 MFB protection, residents in the outer suburbs and growth corridors rely on a patchwork of CFA professionals and volunteers. The UFU submission details the public safety and economic benefits of a single fire service for Victoria and how professionals and volunteers would work together, as they do now in the CFA.

Boundary impactCFA firefighter Barry Thomas was the final ‘organisational structure’ witness to appear before the Royal Commission. Barry’s career with the CFA spans nearly 35 years and he told the Commissioners about a fire at the Apollo Parkways Primary School in Greensborough, an outer north eastern suburb of Melbourne.

The fire broke out on a weekday morning during March 2008 and caused, according to one report, about $1.5 million worth of damage. Luckily, it was the Easter school holidays at the time and no children were there when the fire broke out.

One fire servicething. It’s a boundary thing ... It may be based on proximity to fire, but it is not based on the appliances that could get there the quickest.”

Barry told the Commission this incident was an illustration of the sort of problems associated with both the MFB and the CFA being responsible for incident response in metropolitan Melbourne.

ResistanceDespite these problems, the Victorian government says the current setup has served the state well and rejects calls from the Union – and the Royal Commission’s counsel – to merge the CFA and MFB. The UFU points out that back in 2008,

Royal Commission chair Bernard Teague. The final report will be delivered at the end of July pic: aap/angela wylie


MFB firefighters also provide emergency medical response – attending some 6,000 rescue and emergency medical calls last year. But these services are not generally delivered by CFA volunteers due to training and accreditation requirements.

Any fire service covering a large, complex, industrialised city must be capable of responding to structure, chemical and industrial fires, crime related incidents and bushfire in outer metropolitan and rural regions. In addition, the UFU submission noted that resourcing to cope with the impact of climate change will require a boost in Victoria’s firefighter numbers of between 24.7% and 44.3%.*

Add to the mix the fact that fires in domestic and commercial structures now being built with composite lightweight materials burn and collapse very quickly, and the argument for a single agency providing standardised fire cover and lower response times is more compelling than ever.

VFBThe UFU says fire services in Victoria should be amalgamated into a single fire service, the Victorian Fire Board. The Board would manage and direct the activities of an Urban Division and a Rural Division.

Neil Bibby also supports integration of Victoria’s fire services. A firefighter whose career began as an MFB recruit in 1973, Bibby was CFA CEO from 2002 until his retirement in September last year. He told the Commission he supported integration via evolution not revolution. “Now, there are a lot of steps that need to be put into place. A simple thing like having the same hose couplings wouldn’t go amiss; the same radio network. So they can’t happen overnight. However, if there is a long-term goal then all of these things can be budgeted for, can be looked at and you have something to aim for. Currently we have nothing to aim for.”

VolunteersThe UFU told the Commission that any future amalgamated organisation would continue to rely on volunteers in fire suppression and response in

be recognised and in some cases paid or provided for with an allowance. There should also be defined career paths available to volunteers who aim to become full time paid staff. These opportunities could be best facilitated by an

amalgamated fire service.

7.7 – not negotiableAs debate over structure and resourcing raged, and while the Royal Commission continued to hear the heartbreaking stories from Black Saturday victims, MFB management embarked on a remarkably ill-timed push to strip back firefighter availability in metropolitan Melbourne.

Its timing could not have been worse, and the potential impact has been highlighted in the Union’s 7.7 Campaign. As the Union’s submission to the Royal Commission was being delivered, Victorian UFU secretary Peter Marshall told the 2,000 firefighters rallying outside, that MFB management plans to scrap the minimum number of firefighters on duty at any one time threatened community safety. He said the proposal would compromise the international maximum response time standard of 7.7 minutes.

“7.7 minutes means the difference between life and death,” said Peter Marshall. “It means the difference between being able to contain a fire to the room where it started as opposed to losing the whole building, and any chance of extracting someone and saving their life is greatly diminished.” Peter told the rally that the fire service should be going forward, not backwards to the bad old days when people in the metropolitan area could not be guaranteed a fire truck would turn up save their families and property.

In the lead up to a state election in November, firefighters are now campaigning in marginal electorates to let the public know that MFB

management plans will put their – and firefighter – lives at risk (there’s more detail on pages 14 and 26). The firecrisis.com website, with its links to Facebook and Twitter pages, is keeping the public up to date with campaign developments.

rural and regional areas. The UFU accepts that the CFA currently has a large number of highly motivated volunteers with experience and skills that make them particularly suitable for Incident Management Teams.

The Union says the work of volunteers should

COVER STORY

Firefighters have reacted with disbelief at MFB’s plan to cut Melbourne’s fire protection

cover by scrapping the minimum number of firefighters on duty at any one time. “Fewer firefighters on duty will mean fire station closures from time to time, or appliances being unavailable due to crew shortages,” says UFU victorian Branch secretary peter Marshall. “The current standard – a response within 7.7 minutes – gives fire crews the maximum chance of saving life, and preventing the fire reaching flashover and spreading from the room of origin in 90% of structure fires.”

MFB station officer Melissa ‘Mac’ Hanson told firefighters at the royal Commission rally of her concerns as an operational firefighter. At a recent fire in three-storey units at suburban Maribyrnong, the first fire crew arrived

six minutes after the alarm to find residents in the upper floors trapped by smoke, one holding a baby out a broken window and another trying to climb out. Because of their timely arrival, firefighters quickly suppressed the fire and successfully evacuated the residents.

“It is not just fires,” said Mac Hanson. “For medical response calls, it’s not just minutes that matter but every second. That’s why we respond with Ambulance victoria to unconscious, non-breathing patients. The sooner we can commence Cpr the better the chances of survival for the patient. The same applies to car accidents, chemical spills and every other emergency we respond to. response times are critical to a successful outcome. They are how we measure our efficiency. They are not negotiable.”

7.7 MINUTES


to write-up the final report before delivering it to the Victorian Governor on the last Saturday in July. ■

* From the UFU commissioned Workplace Research Centre (University of Sydney Faculty of Economics and Business) 2009 paper.

Follow the 7.7 campaign on the Union’s FireCrisis website: firecrisis.com

The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission was established on February 16, 2009 to investigate the causes and responses to the Victorian bushfires of January and February 2009. An interim report was published August on August 17 last year and the final report is due by the end of July. The Royal Commission is chaired by the Hon. Bernard Teague AO with the support of Commissioners Ron McLeod AM and Susan Pascoe AM.

An awful toll: The Saturday February 7, 2009 Victorian bushfire was the worst in recorded Australian history. 173 people died and 414 were injured. 7,562 people were displaced when 450,000 ha burnt, destroying more than 3,500 structures, including over 2,029 houses, 59 commercial properties, 12 public sector and community buildings, and 729 farm buildings (in addition to houses), 399 machinery and 363 hay sheds.

NextThe final week of Royal Commission hearings is at the end of May with the state government in the spotlight. The Age newspaper says a leaked submission by the lawyers assisting the commission accuses the government of ‘’substantial policy failure’’ that placed ‘’at least some of those who died at great risk’’. It says the government and fire agencies still fail to grasp that the stay-or-go policy has been discredited – and merely tinkered with it across the last bushfire season.

The newspaper says agency chiefs have been assessed as managers not leaders, while another submission recommends a Victorian Fire Services Board be established to sit over the three fire services and coordinate planning and resourcing decisions, including the allocation of resources “within and between” the services and the MFB /CFA boundaries.

Royal Commission hearings have stretched across more than 150 days and once completed, the Commissioners will have about two months

ThE gREaT DIVIDEUFU Life Member rod Knowles spent thirty years with the MFB, much of it stationed near CFA boundaries in Melbourne’s south east suburbs. rod now heads the UFU victoria Branch 2011 Centenary celebrations Committee and is part of the Union’s team advising the UFU counsel at the royal Commission. A strong advocate for amalgamation of victoria’s fire services, he remembers well the difficulties caused by the CFA / MFB structural divide.

“When we were at a big fire with MFB and CFA appliances, confusion always reigned,” says rod. “We didn’t know which rank we were talking to because their insignias were different to ours. It’s a problem that still exists. Their trucks were also set up differently; if we needed breathing apparatus quickly we couldn’t use theirs because it was ‘theirs’, it was different and, in any case, we didn’t know where it was. There was an ‘us and them’ mentality on the fireground. The Bushfires royal Commission has a great opportunity to fix all this. Let’s hope it does.”It is now more than 12 months since a Board

of reference ruled that 26 CFA fire stations needed mandatory upgrades. These included

stations located in 34 of the 52 hotspots identified by the victorian government before the start of last summer’s fire season. Many are in Melbourne or close to suburban fringe. others are in, or adjacent to, major regional cities and towns. In April last year, the CFA asked the state Government for more professional firefighters. But victorians - and

the firefighters who protect them - are still waiting. CFA Fire officer stewart Marshall, a firefighter

with 34 year’s experience, told the Melbourne rally, “(e)very day I wonder if I will be returning to my home at the completion of my shift due to the woefully inadequate manning levels that the CFA are imposing upon us … when we turn out to jobs, I’ve got to go and take a hose line into a building and I may not come out – that’s always in the back of the mind of every firefighter in the CFA.”

URgENT NEED IgNORED


More safeguardsMake sure that all PPC is laundered frequently:

- make it a priority after every significant

contamination at any type of fire, including after

grass or bush fires where there is a long duration

of exposure,

- the days when the badge of honour was a

firefighter’s filthy turnout gear are also long gone;

now it’s just a sign of foolishness or lack of or

understanding,

Do not wear or bring soiled PPC into the cabin of

the fire appliance:

- the cabin is also a work place and as such must

be kept contaminate free,

- any PPC that is dirty needs to be bagged and

where possible placed in the rear locker away

from the cabin.

Change and clean your Breathing Apparatus, (BA)

after every fire:

- dirty BA must be stored away from the fire

appliance cabin where possible,

- if you’re unable to do this, wash the BA set to

clean off any particulate matter and place it in a

plastic bag before it’s re-stowed on the appliance,

- on return to station source a new BA.

What are presumptive laws? A presumptive

disability law links a particular occupation with a

disease or condition that has been shown to be a

hazard associated with that occupation.

As a result of this linkage, if an individual

employed in the occupation covered by the

presumption contracts a disease or condition

that is specified in the presumptive law, then that

disease or condition is presumed to have come

from that occupation. In this case, the burden of

proof shifts from the employee to the employer,

who must demonstrate that the condition was

not in fact associated with the occupation but

with another cause. (This definition comes

from North America, where state and provincial

presumptive laws are now widespread.)

So what does all this ‘mumbo jumbo’ mean for

firefighter sitting in a mess room in a fire station

somewhere in Australia? Not a lot, probably. Put

simply, it means if you contract an identified

disease or illness, it’s up to the employer to prove

it’s not work related.

The questions So what will save you firefighters? You need to

ask these questions now to find out:

i. Will presumptive laws save me?

The short answer is NO! These laws will ensure

firefighters receive the best available care, allow

them to maintain an income and reduce the

impost on their family. Does it stop them getting

cancer? NO!. What is needed is a complete

change of thinking about the historical nature of

our job.

ii. How do I ensure that I reduce the chances of

getting one of these diseases?

This is one of the most frequently questions I’m

asked to answer. In short, take care of each other:

- don’t store turnout clothes in the engine bay;

make sure you are able to store or isolate your

turnout gear away from the engine bay,

- don’t wear turnout pants, boots etc. inside

your station work and living areas – all you are

doing is dragging the stuff we trying to protect

you from into the station and affecting the health

of yourself and all of the staff in that station –

those days are long gone.

Presumptive explainedHow can firefighters best protect themselves from diseases linked to the profession? Steve Bunney, UFUA Queensland President and the Union’s Presumptive Laws National Coordinator, explains


WORKFRONTSAFETY

Pressure on state and territory governments will be required to enact presumptive

legislation to protect firefighters

Prevention is the only way when there is no cure: see page 33 for more pic: stockxchng/jayphen


The UFUA is teaming up with the Muscular dystrophy Foundation Australia (MdFA) to help its work supporting those afflicted – and funding research into the condition.

Muscular dystrophy (Md) is a neuromuscular, genetic disorder: it’s not just one disease but common to all its forms is the weakening and wasting of muscles over time. While most types of Md occur in babies or children, some others appear in late adolescence or adulthood.

The incidence of neuromuscular disorders in Australia is estimated to be one in 10,000. That means more than 20,000 people have some form of the disease. research into the causes and ways to stop its dreadful progress continue. some forms of Md are terminal.

Fundrasingveteran actor and comedian Jerry Lewis, is a long term Muscular dystrophy support activist in north America, where each year, millions of dollars are raised by firefighters and their Union (the IAFF) with ‘fill the boot’ fundraising drives for Md awareness and support.

In June, Jerry is coming to Australia to assist the MdFA and its work. His visit will also

mark the start of a UFUA / MdFA association as firefighters support Jerry in his public appearances at footy matches and other events across the third and fourth weekends in June.

BenefitsJerry Lewis’ association with north American firefighters goes back 40 or 50 years. They came on board with him in the very early stages of his support for Md. “Firefighters raise an enormous amount of both money and awareness each year there by getting out and talking to people, collecting and being involved in events,” says david Jack. Last year they raised $28 million.

david said that when he spoke to delegates at nCoM in perth, the response was quite overwhelming. “The interest and willingness to be involved and give support – I can just see this as being of enormous benefit to the children and the families in the time to come”

victorian CFA firefighter stewart Marshall is part of the UFUA / MdFA planning group and says this is an opportunity for local firefighters to join their colleagues in north America and the UK. “This is very much a natural progression to incorporate Australian firefighters and make it the major fundraiser and support activity we’re involved in,” says stewart.

Following the MdFA presentation at nCoM, the Jerry Lewis visit has given firefighters the impetus to get active. “The events we’re planning for June will be a first; they’re a chance to get our association with MdFA off the ground so that over the next couple of years we will roll out support activities across

Australia,” says stewart Marshall.

More information about MDFA and its activities can be found on the Foundation’s website at supportMD.org.au. keep an eye on your UFUA branch website for more on the joint fundraising activities planned for June.

Muscular DystrophyMuscular dystrophy has no cure and its victims can be affected at an early age. Now a local support group is seeking firefighter involvement in its cause

Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia’s David Jack spoke to delegates at the Perth NCOM meet this year

Personal hygiene is a priority after every job, no

matter how small:

- even those ‘nothing’ jobs like grass fires, rubbish

fires, pot on the stove, where there’s no smoke

etc, make it a habit to wash your hands and

wash your face before you eat or drink,

- if you feel hot a sweaty, go and take a shower;

remember these gases can enter into the skin

through dermatitic contact.

Start of shift checks – take the truck outside when

undertaking these checks:

- if you have an engine bay where you can get full

ventilation from front to back, open all doors,

- if not, after you have the appliance outside

make sure the doors to the engine bay are closed

behind you,

- make sure that any engine bay exhaust extraction

system is operated prior to starting up the

appliance.

Lastly and most importantly, lead by example; your

actions now will leave a legacy of safe work practices

for years to come.

We know that firefighters are exposed on a

daily basis to stress, smoke, heat and various toxic

substances. As a result, we are far more likely to

contract heart disease, lung disease and cancer than

other workers.

Don’t you become a statistic!Given the importance of this issue, your Union

leaders recently met at national level and together,

formulated an action plan to start the adoption of

these types of presumptive laws, state by state.

Do you think you may have a case or know

of someone who would be eligible for this type

presumptive legislation? Please contact your state or

regional delegate for action. Together, we will have

these laws enacted. ■

MdFA Ceo david Jack says when firefighters engage with the community people listen. “so for us to be able to be associated with firefighters is a huge honour and a privilege for our organisation,” says david. “When we mentioned the possibilities with firefighters here, Jerry was very enthusiastic,”


National delegates meetNCOM

NCOM delegates and WA Members celebrated the official opening of the new UFUA WA Branch HQ, the old North Perth Fire Station. The ribbon was cut by John Mc Mahon,

retired Chief Officer and committee member of the Officers’ Industrial Union. Retired Member, Pat Richards was also acknowledged.

WA Branch building now open!

UFUA legal rep Adam Bandt detailed the Rudd government’s FairWork Act changes

The importance of strong international links was emphasised by National Secretary, Peter Marshall

In March the UFUA National Committee of Management met in Perth. Key strategies to build the national Union and strengthen international firefighter Union links were endorsed.


National delegates meet

NCOM delegates and WA Members celebrated the official opening of the new UFUA WA Branch HQ, the old North Perth Fire Station. The ribbon was cut by John Mc Mahon,

retired Chief Officer and committee member of the Officers’ Industrial Union. Retired Member, Pat Richards was also acknowledged.

WA Branch building now open!

Delegates to the 2010 NCOM in Perth

Mark Gribble, the UFUA’s ISO and Standards Australia rep brought delegates up to date on PPC standards

Delegates mapped out national campaign plan for presumptive diseases protection


depending on where you live, the work gear you’re wearing could be coming from Romania or China. And you may

think that doesn’t matter, so long as it’s up to spec and does the job.

However, just as the debate over the new mining tax is raising questions about where the money goes and who benefits most, similar questions are being asked about the industry that supplies firefighter PPC and other apparel.

Structural firefighting clothing for most Australian fire services is still made right here. However, for South Australian, Aviation (ASA) and – across the ditch – New Zealand firefighters, it’s produced overseas in China or

Romania. If this is the start of a trend, then firefighters are in a good position to question what’s happening and campaign for the survival of a local industry that’s being squeezed by powerful multinationals.

Too muchWith pressure on trade barriers and growth of the global economy, corporates like the US Lion Apparel and British Bristol Uniforms are making inroads into Australia. The frustrating thing for local manufacturers is that they’re being told they are too expensive. “So tell us where you’d like it made,” they respond.

Rob Walsh from Australian Defence Apparel

(ADA) says “I could take my design to China or Vietnam and get it copied for two or three hundred dollars cheaper. But the question is, is that good for Australian industry, because if you take away this business from Australia, you won’t get it back.”

There are direct – and negative – implications if the local firefighter clothing industry disappears. One is ‘speed to market’, particularly with follow up. “If you want quick service from overseas then you won’t get it,” says Rob. “During the bushfires last year, wildland gear producers supplied within hours of orders. They worked weekends, making more product. You don’t get that out of China or Romania.”

Value stacks upThe value of ‘speed to market’ on top-up and urgent orders should not be underestimated. Add to this the likelihood of better quality control over design and manufacture, plus quicker response to particular needs or critical issues, and the value of local manufacture starts to stack up.

Tariffs saw another reduction in January this year and the high relative value of our currency against the US dollar is further battering the defences of the Australian textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry. It’s a sector that still employs close to 50,000 people and for lower skilled people, TCF provides work and security in an age when newer industries require higher skills or a move to remote regions where the cost of living is over the top.

Clear labelling needWhen current contracts are up for renewal and new tenders are being prepared, the Union and Members should consider the value of keeping the skills base in Australia, says Rob Walsh. “Once the contracts go overseas, those skills will be lost and it’s unlikely they’ll ever be back.” ADA produces structural PPC for Queensland firefighters from its factory in Bendigo in central Victoria. It has a fully unionised workforce of 250 people and the local economy benefits from a manufacturing plant of this size. It’s helping to keep jobs in a place where people prefer to live.

As far as tenders for new contracts go, a first step could be to ensure the source of the clothing is clearly identified. “There have been contracts won and I’ve explained to a few people, well your garments are made in China,” says Rob. “There

“Bit by bit it moves off shore, slowly but surely”. Fire service garment contracts are starting to undermine a valuable local industry

Location, locationEver thought about where the PPC and other work gear supplied by your employer is made? Should we be making sure it’s manufactured locally? Let’s check the argument

WORKFRONTAPPAREL

global pressure


Please Note: NOT TO SCALE - approximate only.Dimensions of advertisement: 190.0mm wide and 131.0mm high.

are a lot of misconceptions about where things are made. I would like to see manufacturers state very clearly where the garment is made.”

Weight itFor those who come back with the level playing field and ‘free’ trade arguments, the reality for many Australian businesses is very different. “You try and sell garments into the US,” says Rob Walsh. “You can’t do it. I’d like to see a weighting given to local manufactures, whether that’s 10 or 20%, to support local industry.”

When fabric maker Melba industries went under last year, it was bought by another Australian company and the skills base was kept here. “That’s good, but we need to keep the same skills base for the garments,” says Rob. Earlier this year, the federal government said it wanted to keep key industries – including textiles – that support the defence forces onshore. The question firefighters can now ask their local MP is, when will the government

adopt the same approach for the nation’s firefighters?

ErosionWith no local procurement policies implemented by governments or authorities, we see big multinationals like Lion and Bristol pick up fire service contracts to supply the gear - but then get it made in developing nations where labour is cheap and clothing workers are on around $US 60 a month, or about one fiftieth of the average Australian garment worker’s wage.

“My concern is that as more and more agencies choose the foreign made garment, it forces us in the local industry to consider going offshore,” says Rob Walsh. “What happens is it just erodes the business; bit by bit it moves off shore, slowly but surely.” ■ HAVE YOUR SAY: Go to the ufua national website at ufua.asn.au and throw your two bob’s worth into the debate. Vote in the online poll that asks should fire services’ clothing and equipment tenders be weighted to give local manufacturers a fair chance against overseas competitors?

A problematic formula: ‘free’ trade

+ global economy = national industry

decline + local jobs loss


WORKFRONTCAMPAIGN

v ictor ia

I’m not just doing this for my own sake; I’ll be out of the brigade in a few years. I’m doing it for the generation that comes after me when

I’m gone.” Standing out the front of a suburban shopping centre in a marginal seat on a Saturday morning, UFU delegate Peter Hall spoke about why he helped organise the campaign action along with shop steward Glen Cavanagh and the other delegates and Members. Glen nods in agreement. “The way I see it, we are the custodians of our conditions. They weren’t just given to us as a gift from the employer; we’ve got a duty to protect them.”

As most Members know, we are now fighting in a new setting. Under the Fair Work Act, our ability to take traditional protected action in the form of bans has been severely curtailed. Staring down the barrel of an arbitrated outcome, where long-held existing conditions are up for grabs, we have had to campaign creatively and fight smart for the changes we need in the fire services and our EBA.

Response challengeFor the past six months, the UFU community campaign for More Firefighters, Not Less has been educating and mobilising the public to support maintained and increased fire cover standards across Victoria. Through Members engaging in grassroots campaigning, we have managed to educate and galvanize the support of thousands of Victorian residents and voters – through our local actions, large rallies, online campaigning and a consistent public presence in local, state-wide and

national media. We have shown the public that our working conditions are directly linked to their standard of emergency services protection and we are turning up the heat on some nervous marginal seat MPs.

For our Members in the MFB, we are campaigning against the abolition of the 269 minimum crewing chart to ensure that Members have the resources and troops needed to be safe in responding quickly to emergencies within the MFD. If MFB management are successful in abolishing 269 it will threaten fire cover and response times, spell the end of recall for Members and, coupled with the proposed MFB redundancy clause, could lead to job losses.

Urgent upgradesFor the CFA, we have been pushing hard for increased resourcing and professional crews for stations stretched to the limit with a lack of staff. We have been lobbying government to immediately implement the independent recommendations from the Board of Reference

inquiry which, over 12 months ago, identified 24 CFA stations in need of urgent upgrade to deal with urban growth and the lack of professionals. As our CFA comrades will know, many of these stations fall within the government’s own 52 ‘hot spots’ – they are under-resourced and in high risk bushfire areas.

In the Royal Commission we have been making these points clearly – highlighting the direct link between our employment conditions and the standard of fire cover for the Victorian people. There have already been murmurs and speculation about greater integration / amalgamation of the fire services, with the creation of a new Victorian Fire Services Board. We await the Commissioner’s findings eagerly, but whether the Government has the inclination to follow through with logical recommendations is sometimes a separate matter.

Six months moreWe are at a crucial point in our campaign for a new EBA and I want to thank all Members, particularly our delegates, for all the hard yards and volunteering on the campaign trail. We have six months until the state election and the pressure is ramping up on the Government to deliver a fair outcome for firefighters and the community.

For Members yet to take part in a local community action, please consider giving it a

go if there is one in your area. Shop Stewards and WOC (Workplace Organising Committee) members often do the ring around to ask for support and numbers at the actions – please give it a thought next time. If there is no action coming up in your area, contact the office and let’s make one happen. ■

Until next time, Strength in Unity comradesJake WishartCampaigns and New Media

Follow the Victorian firefighters’ campaign at firecrisis.com where there are also links to the campaign Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.

On the campaign trailVictorian firefighters are out on the streets to defend their work conditions. Branch Campaigns and New Media Officer, Jake Wishart tells the story

“

Firefighters take the campaign to Ringwood in a marginal Labor electorate

Victorian Campaign challenge

Confident campaigners in Richmond, another marginal seat for the government

Safety firstWhen 2,000 Victorian firefighters delivered the Union’s submission to the Bushfires Royal Commission they also alerted the public to Fire Service plans to scrap the mandantory minimum number of firefighters on duty and change shift arrangements.

The firefighters’ message was clear – resourcing cuts mean longer response times and less protection for people, property and themselves.

MFB fire crews currently respond within the internationally accepted maximum emergency response time of 7.7 minutes. The community expects fire service managements to keep it this way.



The business endReform is the first casualty when vested interests go to into battle against a government and the opposition plays for total tactical advantage, says Charles Livingstone

President Obama’s health reform legislation was so watered down by the action of vested interests in the health care industry that many commentators suggested it was barely worth implementing. Even so, it took all the President’s considerable nous and political capital to steer it through the Congress, even with a comfortable Democrat majority in both houses. But the real point of the exercise was to maintain the Obama administration’s momentum, and that was achieved. His political fortunes improved immediately.

Despite grieving over their 2007 election loss, as Tony Abbott recently admitted, the Liberals have taken their status as the opposition literally. The list of measures they opposed includes the

T he 2007 election seemed to set up Labor for at least two terms, as the Opposition were swept, leaderless, from office. Now, if

the polls are to be believed, Labor could lose the upcoming election, becoming the first single term government since the Second World War.

What went wrong?Labor governments are elected to reform, not to conduct business as usual. Rudd’s platform promised reforms including ending WorkChoices, addressing climate change and improving health and education. To achieve this, Labor has had to overcome the opposition not just of the dispirited and only modestly talented coalition parties, but also of increasingly powerful and vocal vested interests who never hesitate to oppose that which threatens their wealth and power.

Pressure pointsVested interests now routinely pressure governments in ways almost unimaginable a generation ago. Back room deals with captains of industry were apparently commonplace in the 1950s and 1960s. Corporate lobbying, donating and campaigning have replaced those cosier arrangements over the last 50 years, as notions of political propriety have changed. There are currently 288 registered lobbyist companies operating in Canberra, not including organisations like the Minerals Council, the Business Council and so on. Their influence with the machinery of government is significant. This seems particularly so when the opposition has control of the Upper House.

There is no doubt that Labor has many solid successes, not the least of which is its excellent counter-cyclical management of the global financial crisis. No other advanced economy was as well managed as Australia’s, or suffered less damage from the GFC. Australia’s unemployment rate never exceeded 6% during

the crisis. That of the US continues to hover around the 10% level, despite the beginnings of what seems now to be solid recovery. Unlike most of the world, Australia avoided recession altogether. On this basis alone, Labor has a strong case for re-election, particularly given renewed economic uncertainty generated by the debt crisis of Greece and the Euro zone.

Total oppositionHowever, Labor’s reform agenda seems to have lost momentum during the GFC. As in sport, victory in politics is often a matter of momentum, of who is seen to be making progress, achieving their goals, carrying the ball forward. Once momentum is halted, it’s hard to re-ignite.

Abbot’s tactical strengths are also his weakness pic: stock.xchng/shuttermon

POLITICSPOWER PLAYS

charles l i v ingston


establishment of a national health promotion foundation, as recommended by the Preventative Health taskforce, increasing tax on alco-pops, and private health insurance reforms, which would have reduced the subsidy on private health rebates for the wealthy.

Leading from minorityThe alco-pops tax hike, despite the frenzied opposition of the alcohol industry, would have instituted parity in tax between other forms of alcohol and these sweet drinks designed for juvenile palates – and reduced consumption. Turnbull’s opposition backed down in the face of accurate data on consumption patterns. However, private health insurers worked hard to protect their $5 billion government subsidy. The opposition certainly saw this as an opportunity to inflict further pain on Labor. Their opposition to improved preventative health measures is a mystery.

Abbott has turned this oppositionalism into an art, backed (it seems) wherever possible by vested interest – the real Abbott’s army. The carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS), agreed by Turnbull, was the vehicle for Abbott’s succession when the conservative rump of the Liberal Party rebelled against Turnbull’s small-l liberalism. This was a touch and go rebellion – had the leader’s ballot been held a few days later, after two moderate Liberals had been elected in by-elections for Higgins and Bradfield (vacated by Brendan Nelson and Peter Costello) Abbott would not have won. Abbott is a minority leader within his own party.

Shark movesThe vested interests that opposed the CPRS most vigorously were the same interests that now oppose the resources super profit tax (RSPT), a progressive tax on the collective property of all Australians – resources that can never be replaced. The Minerals Council of Australia and its Chief Executive Mitch Hooke devoted enormous energy to successfully undermining the CPRS. The anti-RSPT campaign is no less energetic. As it happens, it perfectly suits Abbott’s agenda – a minority leader, demonstrating momentum to his troops.

This has been a successful strategy, projecting an energetic and active image. But, largely bereft of policy, Abbott must keep moving lest his lack of substance become a problem, as the budget

response debacle demonstrated. Like a shark, if he stops, he dies.

All in the tacticsUnlike conservative parties, Labor is a progressive, reforming force. Yet reformist governments also have to maintain their own momentum, something that Obama clearly understands (having quickly moved from health to regulation of the financial sector) but which Rudd, for whatever reason, has struggled to achieve.

By abandoning what he had previously called ‘the greatest moral challenge of our time’ in the face of conservative intransigence, Rudd played into the opposition’s image of a Prime Minister without reforming conviction. Not damaging for a conservative, but mortally wounding for a Labor leader.

In contrast, Abbott is all tactics. He conceded as much in his now infamous 7.30 Report interview, when he conceded that he can’t always be believed when speaking off the cuff. This is much more an admission of an unremitting search for tactical advantage than it is of untruthfulness.

NimbleAbbott is an experienced and masterful political tactician. But his lack of substance is becoming more and more clear. Rudd’s less cunning and sluggish response to Abbott’s manoeuvrings is perhaps the inevitable result of a government currently lacking momentum and trying to counter the adroit moves of a more nimble opponent.

Yet Abbott’s strength is his weakness. Opposing change is easy when backed by powerful vested interests seeking retention of excess profit, monopoly or massive government subsidy. The RSPT and other wrangles have given Abbott short-term momentum, backed by the wealth of vested interest. The government, despite lacking momentum, has developed long-term responses to core problems, including the exhaustion of Australia’s resources and our need for a stronger revenue base.

Abbott and his party have yet to tell us how they would build a nation for the 21st century. ■

CHARLES LIVINGSTONE is in the Department of Health Social Science at Monash University.

ABBOTT HAS TURNED OPPOSITIONALISM INTO AN ART,

pic: stock.xchng/coniferine

BACkED WHEREVER POSSIBLE BY VESTED INTEREST – THE REAL ABBOTT ARMY


Leadership LostWith porkies and politics a seemingly unavoidable combination, distinguished Australian Sir Murray Rivers is preparing the obituaries

Richardson was the best SB the colony has ever seen on either side of politics.

Richardson’s simple genius was to lick his finger and pop it out his window each morning to see which way the political wind was blowing. Hawke or Keating never died wondering or ever got a dodgy weather report from the man who did whatever it took. Since ‘Richo’, there has been no one giving that sort of brutal advice; but even if there were, Rudd wouldn’t accept it.

Bar adviceHow else do you explain having twenty nine year olds as senior advisors? With all due respect to those aspirational young Generation Y things, they may be clever, ambitious and do a fine line in egocentricity, but apart from this, there is little else. What on earth do you know about life at

There is a saying from the American poet Walt Emerson that reads, ‘“(t)he louder he

talked of his honour, the faster we counted our spoons.” I think this in a sense sums up the fate of, not only the do-absolutely-nothing-but-do-it-very-quickly Prime Ministership of Kevin 07, but also, after his very unfortunate ‘gospel truth’ interview with the 7.30 Report’s Kerry O’Brien, our great new leader Crusader Abbott.

So, where to begin with both leaders’ political obituaries? (Young Malcolm up the back of the class, stop giggling.) Let’s start with Kevin Rudd. The fact is that young Kev is not just on the nose, he is up a well-known creek without a paddling device. Have no doubt, Rudd is down for the count and he won’t be getting up again – even if Labor wins the next election.

Limb tearersThe reason is simple. The media rocket scientists and other pea-brained trouser shakers that comprise the Canberra press gallery have accomplished what they have done historically: place a politician on an unwarranted pedestal and then, deciding that he’s no fun anymore, commenced to tear him limb by limb from the pedestal.

Uniquely, in the case of Rudd, his spectacular downfall has been, on this occasion, a combined effort. His mistake however, was to think that once elected he could tell the gallery to go away and not bother him. After all, couldn’t they see – he was a bit busy posing as a leader.

None of this would have mattered had the PM and the Government delivered on their election promises. He failed and this is why this PM is the Black Knight of Monty Python fame. He is a dead bird, a past parrot. If it wasn’t for the Dream Team on my side of politics continually scoring own-goals, Kevin Rudd would be gone by now.

Richo missedLike all vain, clever politicians, Rudd’s chameleon instincts require that those surrounding him are very impressed with the brilliance of Kevin Rudd. After all, he certainly is. If it’s true, as Ernest Hemingway once said, that “every writer needs to have a shit barometer”, the same is true of politicians. Therein lies part of the problem for Rudd and Labor.

For a very long time now, throughout the leadership debacles that were Simon Crean, Kim Beazley and the Mark Latham circus, Labor has desperately needed someone to act as a political SB. In other words, Labor has never replaced ‘Richo’. Former Senator Richardson, for better or worse, colourful as he may have been, policy-devoid at all times, the pragmatic Senator

Pollies need better weather checkers pic: stock.xchng/dimitri_c

POLITICSTHE INSIDER

s ir murray


twenty nine? What are you going to advise Kevin 07 about – the hottest bars?

But returning to my point, something I like to do on occasion during an article, Rudd’s problems have come about because having promised the voters Shangri-la, he’s failed to deliver a blade of grass in the Gobi Desert, let alone Nirvana.

Yes, we have the apology to our Ingenious people. But that should have happened a long time ago. My view has always been with this Stolen Generator business, that if you nick someone’s generator, you should apologise for lifting the parts and then we all move on. I’ve never worked out why Howard couldn’t say sorry. Bad potty training would be my guess. But are the appalling circumstances for the Upper Regional people any different under Rudd? No, in fact they’re worse. Three hundred and twenty houses were to be built in the first term, thirty two have been finished – almost. Beware of white men bearing gifts.

Club reactionWhat about the rest? Too many back-flips to mention. It’s fine to announce new initiatives at the speed of sound, but if you don’t deliver you can’t blame the voters for not trusting you. The German playwright Bertold Brecht once observed, “there is one fundamental problem with the armoured tank. It’s driver.” So too the problem for the Labor Party, and I’m very loath to say, the other side of politics.

Jaw dropping is not something one sees all that often down at the Melbourne Club but when word spread of Tony Abbott’s massive blunder on the 7.30 Report, some of the elder membership had conniptions. Good Lord, telling the voters that they shouldn’t believe what you say unless they get it in writing isn’t the smartest thing a politician might say. What came over the man? Look, I know Crusader Abbott is a practicing Catholic but there’s a time and place for the confession.

The effect at the Club was immediate. Poor old ‘Bumsie’ ( Sir Rodger Darling) was calling for oxygen, Vice Admiral Wilmonth-Smythe tipped his glass of port down his trouser legs and was predicting Armageddon, and I was forced to open another ‘69 Grange to steady my nerves.

Age of consentLook when it comes to telling political porkies, I take the very mature view that provided a porky is told, in private, between consenting adults could I care? Fate is a funny thing and Lord Turnbull must have cracked an even more expensive bottle of red as he watched the ABC.

Malcolm, a word of advice from here on in – if you want the leadership back just remain silent. It is clear that keeping one’s trap shut is about the smartest trick in town. ■

SIR MURRAY RIVERS QC (RETIRED).A former distinguished Victorian Supreme Court judge, Sir Murray’s contribution to the nation’s public life continues as a great and very distinguished Australian

Q U A L I T Y D E N T A L C E N T R E

Quality Dental Centre Pty LtdSuite 3 / 157-161 George Street, Liverpool, NSW 2170

Also at: 90 Burwood Road, Burwood, NSW 2134

- health equity between males at different life stages,

- a focus on preventive health for males,- building a strong evidence base on male

health, and - access to health care for males.

All good stuff but will it work? Canberra based health policy commentator Margo Saunders pointed out in the online news and commentary


How healthy is that?In May, the Rudd government released a nationwide men’s health policy. A good move or an election year stunt? Read on Macduff

on average, the Aussie male dies some five years earlier than his female

counterpart. Research indicates that Australian men have an average life expectancy of just under 79 years. This compares to nearly 84 years for women. This gap isn’t new, so why has it taken so long for a federal government to come up with the plan to deal with male health problems?

Last month, the Rudd government trumpeted the release of its National Male Health policy. This one follows on from an election promise, so it been three years in the making and the formulation hasn’t been short on consultation. Last year, 26 public forums were conducted in regional and metropolitan centres across the country. That involved around 1,300 people, the sort of sample size your average newspaper pollster uses to gauge the popularity of government and opposition parties from time to time.

Action prioritiesThe new policy has six priority areas and in the time honoured tradition of the consultant (‘give me your watch and I’ll tell you the time’) we are being told that the ‘action plan’ requires us blokes to do something – ourselves – to make a difference. Of course government, health and non-government sectors will be there to lend a hand we’re told, so that’s heartening.

Those six action priorities include the promotion of:- optimal health outcomes for males, - health equity between population groups

of males,

blog Crikey, that despite being some 110 years late, how well the policy goes down will depend more on to its implementation than the launch fanfare. She points out that we’ve had a National Women’s Health policy for about 21 years and that the first national men’s health conference was held way back in 1995.

Employer health checksSo now that we finally have one – and it comes with a $16.7 million budget – is it any good? Andrology Australia, a research and men’s health promotion body with a focus on male reproductive health, is positive about the policy. Its Associate Professor Doug Lording says, “(o)ne of the most important aspects of the policy is its acknowledgment of the range of factors that influence male health and the importance of a strong evidence base to inform policy and practice.”

For firefighters who face the prospect of exposure to toxic chemicals and dangerous workplaces every time they go on shift, the fourth action priority, with its focus on the preventive will be music to the ears of males in the ranks. The policy aim is to encourage employers to deliver health checks and programs for men as well as monitor workplace hazards and environmental toxins. This aspect of the policy could synch in very well with the Union’s NCOM decision to pursue presumptive laws and regulation to better recognise and deal with firefighter cancers and other work-related diseases.

For female firefighters, the news is that the National Women’s Health policy is also currently being reviewed,

although it’s unknown where it might head with workplace issues.

More broadly, the policy’s strong message about prevention will, hopefully, filter down to employers and HR departments – and state and territory governments – across the nation. Unfortunately, the money may not go quite far enough.

LIFEHEALTH

ed

A poor tradie always blames … well, maybe not. Men’s health is now well and truly on the agenda with Australia’s first National Male Health policy


Firefighters continues to be at risk of asbestos exposure because it was frequently used in older structures. Its ability to linger in the air even after a fire has been extinguished also makes it a hazard.

Asbestos and fireAsbestos exposure is unlikely to occur during the initial firefighting stages when firefighters are wearing BA that prevent asbestos from being inhaled. However during a fire, asbestos containing materials might disintegrate from the fire itself or from water when it makes contact with hot material.

It might also be released into the air in the case of structural failure. The fibres are not combustible and can linger in the air during the overhaul stage of a fire when firefighters extinguish remaining

hotspots and make their checks.

Clues to its presence

Asbestos was used in a number of building products. While there is no definitive way to tell whether a material does contain asbestos there are some clues after a fire. For example, if certain parts of a structure are in much better relative condition than other parts, there’s a fair chance asbestos could be present.

Removal or abatement

If a building has had asbestos removed, that means it is no longer present in the structure. If a building has undergone asbestos abatement that means the material has been removed or sealed within a protective material to prevent it from being released.

Health risks from exposureAsbestos fibres can enter the lungs and become trapped which can lead to scarring. over time, this can increase the risk of developing conditions like mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer. However, that risk depends on the nature of exposure.

patients diagnosed with asbestos related diseases usually have a pattern of asbestos exposure. Therefore, it is unlikely that a one time exposure will lead to the development of cancer. But if you have been exposed to asbestos, report it and get a medical check.

prevention is key: a good start is to make sure all ppC is cleaned frequently.

Sources include the US based Mesotheliomaweb.org. Check out the website’s firefighter section via tinyurl.com/27wusotThere’s more information about asbestos and its dangers on the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia website at adfa.org.au

ASBESTOS NEED TO KNOW

The spendSo how will the bulk of the dollars be spent? Over 40% (nearly $7 million) of the budget will go on a national longitudinal men’s health study. This forms part of its whole-of-life viewpoint, says Andrology Australia and the study will hope to identify “the social determinants of male health and the associations with biological, environmental and other factors across the lifespan.”

For firefighters, there are echoes here of the Monash University firefighter health study that was proposed after the discovery of a cancer cluster at the Atherton fire station in northern Queensland. This year, the Union is investigating the value of supporting the study and whether it is more studies or more immediate action by governments and employers that will prove the most effective way to support firefighters who contract cancer through workplace exposure.

But back to the National Male Health policy budget commitments; a further $3 million has

been allocated to the Australian Men’s Sheds Association, while $6 million will be spent on promoting the role of Indigenous men in their children’s and families’ lives. “This clearly doesn’t leave a lot for everything else, such as addressing major needs in primary prevention,” says Margo Saunders.

The limitsWith its nine supporting documents the new National Male Health Policy does appear to be weighty and comprehensive. But is that a recipe for success? “While the policy now provides a

framework of action”, says Andrology Australia’s Doug Lording, “it is important that individuals, organisations, service providers and governments work together to ensure that the policy is effectively implemented.”

It “touches all the bases” says Margo Saunders but a number of unanswered questions remain, such as how it will relate to other national health policies, such as the National Drug Strategy and strategic approaches to obesity.

So, for Australia’s men. does life need to be a choice between quantity (life span) and quality (how well we live)? Or could us blokes have it all, thanks to the National Male Health policy? Only time will tell. ■

THE AGEING EDITOR Check out the detail of the National Male Health Policy at health.gov.au/malehealthpolicyRead Margo Saunders Crikey column in full via tinyurl.com/2anb7rwTo find out more about the Australian Centre of Excellence in Male Reproductive Health, visit the Andrology Australia website at andrologyaustralia.org

Targeting men – but will the National Male Health policy make a difference? pic: stockxhng/flycat


For the wildRescue and rehab are key roles for wildlife responders as bushfires, emergencies, climate change – and the GFC – pile on the pressure

LIFECARE

wildl i fe

each year, countless numbers of wild animals are killed, injured and orphaned across Australia as a direct consequence

of human activities or natural disasters. Firefighters are all too aware of the impact of fires and other emergencies they attend on the animal population. And that extends to domesticated animals as well as those in the bush.

However, it is not-for-profit and volunteer based organisations that lead the charge to protect wildlife across Australia. Many provide around-the-clock rescue, rehabilitation and information services.

Modus operandiWildlife Victoria is one such rescue body. Formed in 1989, the group celebrates a 21st birthday this year. Animal rescue, rehab and support is an expensive business, and as state and territory governments tighten their belts to cope with the impact of the global financial crisis, they are spending less in this area. So an even greater responsibility for the rescue and care of injured and threatened wild species is being placed on these voluntary groups.

Wildlife Victoria relies on about 650 members, mostly volunteers, to do the work. Volunteers are trained to perform their tasks during emergencies such as bushfires, accidents or chemical and fuel spills. In addition to rescue operations, many volunteers devote hours to care and rehabilitation, education and training, wildlife advocacy and research.

GrampiansA good example of how wildlife emergency responders go about their work can be found back in January, when a bushfire burnt through 1,700 hectares of the Grampians National park in Victoria.

Within 24 hours, a Wildlife Victoria response effort swung into action involving more than 20 team members working in shifts across each day. Team members, decked out in rescue equipment and protective gear included vets who assisted

with assessment, medication – and in some cases euthanasia – of injured and distressed animals.

Eastern grey kangaroos, swamp and redneck wallabies, along with possums and lizards were the most severely affected species. Injuries included serious burns to paws, limbs and tails. Stress and dehydration affected many of the animals and there were a number of joeys orphaned.

Rules and regsRapid access to injured wildlife can be an issue and delays can be frustrating for the responders.

occupy the time of wildlife responders. There are food drops to drought and fire affected areas, dealing with the results of illegal trapping and poisoning attempts (possums), mindless cruelty (bow and arrow attacks on birds and animals), dog and cat attacks (sugar glider and brush-tails) plus road injuries (koalas, wombats, echidnas) and entanglements (grey headed flying foxes).

Volunteers also rehabilitate and care for injured animals – and staff the emergency phone service. In Victoria alone, 60,000 calls are dealt with each year. Funded by donations, it is nevertheless relied on by government

departments, zoos, sanctuaries, veterinarians, councils, police and emergency services – as well as the general public.

QualitiesSo what’s it take to be a good wildlife support person? Of course sensitivity to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation is a must, along with enthusiasm, dedication, a professional attitude, not to mention the ability to remain calm and focused under pressure. You need to be able to work alone and unsupervised while the ability to relate is a must – not only to injured animals but also to members of the public who are often distressed when they come across wildlife in need of urgent care.

And what’s it take to be a good wildlife supporter? How about starting

with a donation? ■

WILDLIFE PROTECTION AND SUPPORT GROUPS are state and territory based. Links to a number of them include:NSW: Wildlife Information and Rescue Service atwires.org.auSA: Fauna Rescue of SA at faunarrescue.org.au WA: Department of Environment and Conservation Wildcare courses and helpline via tinyurl.com/262qstb Vic: Wildlife Victoria at wildlifevictoria.org.au;DSE/CFA The protocols can be found via tinyurl.com/28qvexnBanner pic: stock.xchng/egilshay

Scarce already, but koalas are just one native species suffering increased stress pic: stock.xchng_albertip

To clear up areas of confusion, Victoria’s Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) has recently revised its protocols for wildlife rescue on fire grounds.

They cover some 18 pages but Wildlife Victoria believes the revision represents “a significant change in the mindset of government departments in factoring the state’s wildlife in disaster response planning.” This new approach has been heavily influenced by the Victorian bushfires tragedy of last year, when wildlife rescue and rehabilitation was almost entirely resourced by Wildlife Victoria.

However, it’s not only bushfire injuries that


Dispatch is the UFUA’s national industrial and campaign newsletter. Subscribe at ufua.asn.au to have it delivered to your email inbox

Sign of the timesCommunities have always been at a disadvantage when they’ve lacked the protection of paid, professional firefighters. However, in their absence, communities cope in various ways and from China here’s a sign describing how one town went about protecting itself against fire. And just in case the image is a little difficult to decipher, here’s what the sign says.

Fire department

The people in Wu Zhen have been emphasised anti-fire and the fire department consisted of three communities that paid the daily expenses to prepare some necessary anti-fire implements. These implements differed in different times, originally, they was made from wood, after the anti-war, the newly produced pump was used. on fire, the people went all out to put out it, who went to do so were all voluntary. Later, the people in the town regarded May 20 every year in the lunar calendar as anti-fire day. When all the people would like to take active part in fire drill.

UFU victoria Branch Industrial officer Harry Mitchell snapped this priceless piece of fire prevention history on a trip to China.


Winter warmersEat now, save some for later – it’s the only way to go with winter comfort food, says Chef Mannix

1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsedAnd the meatballs:450g (about 6) chicken and fennel sausages1 cooked chicken breast (from the chicken used for the soup)1 egg2 tblspns chicken fat (skimmed from stock)½ cup (plus more) matzo meal or breadcrumbs.

Rinse out the chicken, place the celery tops, the dill and the garlic cloves in the cavity and place it in a large pot. Add all other ingredients except the capsicum and zucchini, cover with water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat to a gentle simmer and allow to cook at least 2-4 hours. Remove from the heat, allow to cool then cover with a lid and refrigerate overnight.

Next day, skim the fat from the surface of the pot and set aside. Lift the chicken out of the water, trying to keep it intact. Add the zucchini and capsicum to the soup and bring back to a boil. Add a cup of small pasta shells and, if you like, some white beans.

Slice one breast from the chicken, remove

soup with hot buttered toast, mashed veggies with grilled meat, steaming, sticky pudding! It’s that time of year

where we just want to be kept warm. These are some of my favourite winter dishes. And they’re all worth making in large quantity because they all taste even better the next day!

The Godfather Chicken SoupI made this soup for my god daughter when she was here for a visit. She turned up on my door step with a nasty cold and this soup was just what the doctor ordered! You can skip the meatballs and just shred the chicken instead. But who can resist a meatball? If you start the day ahead, you can skim all the fat from the broth. And don’t overlook the old parmesan rind; it gives the soup a ton of character.

Ingredients:1 small chicken (about 1.5 kg)3 carrots, peeled and diced3 stalks of celery, diced (and some leafy tops)3 onions, peeled and diced3 ripe tomatoes, diced3 tufty sprigs of dill3 bay leaves1 piece of old parmesan rind 1 cup of dry white wine1 parsnip, peeled and diced3 cloves of garlic, peeledpinch each; paprika, salt and pepper1 red capsicum3 small zucchini, diced1 cup pasta shells

mann ix

The Godfather …. an offer you can’t refuse

LIFEEATS


the skin and dice the meat. Remove the sausage meat from their casings and mix with the chicken meat in a small bowl. Add two tablespoons of the chicken fat, one egg, ½ cup of matzo meal (or substitute with crushed Sao biscuits). If you don’t wish to use sausages, then use an equal quantity of lean chicken mince. Add 1 tablespoon of grated parmesan, some fennel, salt and pepper and cayenne.

Roll the mix into balls slightly smaller than a golf ball. Roll these in some additional crumbs and drop them into the soup. If the balls are too soft, let them sit on some waxed paper in the fridge for 30 minutes, then add to the soup.

Allow to simmer 30 minutes, until meatballs are cooked. Taste the soup for seasoning; you can add salt, pepper or cayenne to taste.

There, you have it.

Rooty Toot MashThere is something about mashed vegetables which everyone seems to find comforting. This mix of root vegetables are mashed with some cheese and butter, lightly spiced and topped with breadcrumbs. I always make a large batch because everyone comes back for seconds. And they taste as good with the Sunday roast as they do with Monday night’s grilled sausages!The goods:8 swedes8 parsnips4 carrots115 g unsalted butter115g grated gruyere250g cream cheese50g grated parmesansalt, pepperpinch grated nutmeg1 tspn grated lemon zest3 eggs1 cup breadcrumbs.

Peel all of the vegetables, cut the swedes in half, then cut each half into quarter wedges. Cut the parsnips and carrots into quarters. Put the vegetables in a large pot of salted water, bring to the boil and simmer until tender (about 20 minutes). Drain, add the diced cream cheese and

butter, a teaspoon of pepper, nutmeg and zest. Cover and allow to sit for a couple of minutes.

Add ¾ of the grated cheeses and blend, mash or process. I use an immersion blender; that gets everything pureed using a single pot. Taste, add salt if necessary. Add the beaten eggs and combine well.

Spoon into a baking dish, cover with the remaining cheese – and breadcrumbs (Japanese panko breadcrumbs work best – check the Asian food isle in your supermarket). Bake in a hot oven until topping is golden brown.

Comforting in the extreme.

VIDEO MANNIX

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a ‘how to’ video is worth a few thousand more. To see Mannix in action in the kitchen, log on to YouTube at youtube.com/user/mannixeats to see these recipes built before your very eyes.

What you need:For the berries and toffee:115g butter2 cups dark brown sugar2 cups blackberriespinch salt.For the lemon pudding:115 g butter1 cup sugar2 eggs, plus 1 egg yolkzest and juice of 1 lemon1 ¾ cups self raising flour½ cup yoghurt.

Mix the butter and sugar and salt into a batter, spread across the bottom of a cake pan or baking dish. Arrange the blackberries evenly on top of the toffee batter.

Pre-heat oven to 200c.Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl,

add one egg yolk and combine. Add eggs and lemon zest and beat well. Add flour, lemon juice and yoghurt and beat for two minutess. If the batter is too stiff, add a little water or additional lemon juice.

Spoon cake batter over the berries and bake for about 35 minutes until the cake is browned and feels firm to touch. Allow to cool slightly and either turn upside down on a platter or spoon straight from the dish.

That’s the great thing about comfort food; eat some straight away and save a bit for later. Either way, in the kitchen, the approach of colder weather is something to look forward to. ■VISIT THE LOVEBITE.COM for day to day suggestions and to find out more about Chef Mannix, a Melbourne lad now living in Los Angeles.

Upside Down PuddingThis one is with blackberry and lemon but you can make this dessert with any fruit. However, the blackberries and toffee are heavenly with the lemon scented pudding. Lashings of cream and lemon gelato don’t go astray either!

Rip roaring, rooty-toot mash

What ever way up, this upside down pudding is a treat


That half hour took us close to the junction of the Siem Reap River and a very large lake, the Tonlé Sap.

Boat lottoThe water level was low and rickety duckwalks down the steep muddy banks pointed to where we should head. But which was the Battambang boat? There were a number of possibilities, all classic Indochinese river ferries with long flat bottomed wooden hulls, eyes painted on the bow, open air apart from a tin roof held up by a dodgy wooden frame and at the stern, an adjustable propeller on a long swing shaft trailing into the water.

The modern backpacker is a demanding animal and each of their increasingly insistent queries “Battambang?” had the local sailors, labourers and police pointing to a different boat each time. I suppose this is how they get a laugh during an otherwise uneventful morning. However, it all settled down after a couple of side splitting attempts by young tourists to scramble through the mud from one boat to

A ngkor Wat and its surrounds are captivating, no doubt about it. We were so impressed, we got the tuk-tuk* driver

to give it handful and range further afield so we could check out a number of temples and palaces of other Khmer kings. These ruins of glories past are extensive but the connecting roads are rugged and it was January, right in the middle of the Cambodian dry season. So we were not only hot but also very dusty by the final day of our tour of Vedic friezes and Buddhist sculptures.

So how about a relaxing little river trip, suggested Maria. Cool breezes, slow currents and a timeless land immediately sprung to mind. Hmm, that ice cold Angkor, the excellent local brew I was tucking into at the time, was starting to work.

Westward hoWe were in Siem Reap, a noisy boom town that services the Angkor tourist industry, but our next destination was Battambang, the capital of Cambodia’s ‘wild’ west. This region has

been fought over by the Khmers and Thais for centuries and more recently was the front line in the brutal civil war between Pol Pot forces (covertly backed by the UK and US) and the eventual victors, some disaffected factions of the Khmer Rouge reinforced by battalions of Vietnamese warriors.

There are a number of ways to get to Battambang from Siem Reap; the river trip is not exactly the quickest and during the dry season it can take all of a very long day. That’s why at six the next morning, we found ourselves in a packed minibus (85% backpackers, 15% locals) hairing down another potholed road to the ‘port’.

Speed, as your neighbourhood quantum mechanic will tell you, is not a constant. In Cambodia, hairing down a highway means you cover about 12 kilometres in around 30 minutes. While local drivers don’t bother trying to avoid the potholes, there are a number of other things they will, including monks, larger vehicles, animals, motor scooters, drays, bicycles and other pedestrians – in about that order.

River reverieAfter six days investigating seven centuries of Cambodian empire building, the next stage of Davo’s trip had to be a relaxing one

River trip pics: davo

dave lane

LIFEBREAKS


seats now softer (one good reason for taking a jumper to the tropics). We chugged by small open fishing boats with mum, dad and the kids plying their nets, and yes, it had become a relaxing little trip.

We approached the shore again and cruised by the Prek Toal bird sanctuary. Storks, pelicans and birds of prey popped out of the greenery or circled overhead as we turned up the Sangker River to meander our way across the plain to Battambang.

NarrowsWhole lives are lived on this river; the boats of course, but add to this floating houses, vegetable gardens, pig sties, temples, shops – even whole towns and their inhabitants – moving up and down with the water levels. However, not affluent lives by the look of it; serene at times perhaps, but tough, judging by the very small fish being caught by a large number of people.

Our boat paused regularly to drop off and pick up the locals, and we stopped at the (slightly less floating) river junction port of Prei Chas for a fuel stop and lunch. The blokes – and their aviator sunglasses – lounging around the hand-pumped bowser suggested we had arrived in the wild west.

A little later, the river became narrow and shallow, so the rest of the day was dominated by tight manoeuvres – backups, multi-point turns, bank sideswipes and close brushes with

another and consensus was reached about which one was going to make the journey.

When filled to 215% capacity, the diesel was brought to life, the prop lowered and we were off, churning mud from the river bottom and pouring sooty black smoke into the morning air. A relaxing river trip? The jury was still out but it didn’t look good.

Fresh waterThree quarters of an hour later, we were ploughing across the north end of the lake. The youth had decamped to the roof to avoid the crush of the wooden benches in steerage, making a slight stretch possible for the rest of us. A mild breeze had also sprung up, so things were definitely looking up.

Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. It connects to the mighty Mekong River and water moves in two directions. The Mekong floods fill it during the wet season and the water drains back during the dry. It’s a critical ecosystem for the region’s fish and wildlife and acts as a natural flood control device for the mid / lower Mekong. All this is now threatened by massive dams and hydro projects further upstream in China and Laos.

So here we were, running against the current, breeze in our hair, and with those hard wooden

undergrowth to get around nets, fish traps, bathers, clothes washers, small boats, bigger barges and severe bends. There was also a liberal measure of bottom bouncers and shoal churning to test the propeller, the long shaft and its gantry.

Roof viewWith our boat negotiating its way between two and three metre high banks, the only view of the country side was now from the tin roof with the neck craned. Farmers digging in the still of the afternoon, while masses of ducklings packed behind flimsy corrals competed with the fish traps for scarce river bank space.

Relaxing ? Yes it was. And as the sun dipped to the horizon we knew we must be approaching Battambang, as those tell tale signs of an urban population – heaps of plastic rubbish – started to pile piled up on the river’s pebble banks.

Next stop, a prahoc (fish paste) village. Step 1: catch a boatload of fish. Step 2: leave them in the hold for a month. Step 3: that’s another story. ■

Home is where the tilt is

Faith is required where freeboard is scarce

Dry season can be a cruel

WhaT’S WhaTTerms: *a tuk-tuk or remorque moto is a low powered two stroke three wheeler, where the front end of a step-through morphs into a back end of a Cape cart. Getting there: direct Bangkok Airways flights connect Bangkok and Siem Reap but they’re not cheap (around $AUD 350 return for a 50 minute flight each way). The boat trip is around $AUD 20 pp. You can also travel in the reverse direction. With hotel construction going hell for leather, reasonable value accommodation is not too hard to find in Siem Reap. There’s less choice in Battambang – but it’s cheap! Money: US dollars are the thing in Cambodia. Auto tellers and bank staff dish them out and prices are usually quoted in them. You’ll get the local currency (kip) in change, along with some lollies to make up the difference.


wouldn’t have dreamt of ending up starring

in a different code. Sure, there was movement

between the two species of rugby but it was

pretty limited and basically involved the same

game. The really radical idea was to suggest a

switch from Aussie Rules to rugby league, or

vice versa. Imagine Ron Barassi entertaining the

idea of himself in a St George Dragons’ jersey or

Bobby Fulton turning out in the sleeveless kit of

the Essendon Bombers.

Now, imagine Karmichael Hunt, so familiar

to hundreds of thousands of people in his

Maroon State of Origin jersey, suddenly being

the face of the AFL in the fastest growing region

in the nation. It’s about to happen.

Home grown goneAs the ‘80s pop song bluntly acknowledged,

‘money changes everything’. In sport, money

doesn’t re-write the rules as much as make

That word ‘revolution’ has gone from

being very busy to absolutely flat strap,

from an occasional reference to an

everyday description. It used to involve popular

uprisings, overthrowing governments and all

that. But then advertising got hold of it and

everything from toothpaste to radial tyres

became revolutionary. (Yeah, I know, that’s to

be expected.) But now it’s spread to sport, and

not just the bumpf about revolutionary boots,

energy drinks or hair replacement schemes. A

revolution has gripped sport itself.

At one level, it’s all about the huge change

from something we did to have fun (or hang

out with friends) to a massive business exercise.

The link between sport and play was once

fundamental, but at an elite level these days

that’s pure nostalgia. Sport and pay is now the

key link. But that’s hardly revolutionary either;

the influence of money – dollars both legit and

underhand – has been around for generations

as well.

Skills purchase

No, the revolution is all about the collapse

of the differences between football codes and

the emergence of an open market for players.

To recruit Queensland rugby league star

Karmichael Hunt as the first signing for the

new Gold Coast AFL club was a masterstroke

of publicity. Suddenly the as-yet-unnamed club

was all over the back page of most newspapers

and on every talkback show. Local leaguies said

it was an insult to serious AFL fans. Diehard

Melburnians questioned whether Hunt would

do any good in their code. But beyond the

particular merits of the AFL and rugby league,

this was a clear example of buying sporting

skills, irrespective of where they were fashioned.

Once upon a time, a serious football player

Revolutionpic: stockxchng/xtrapink

mick o’regan

LIFEPLAY

... or just plain revolting? With its cross code recruiting and salary cap scandals, Mick O’Regan looks into what is happening to footy


them up to suit the situation. Over the past

generation, as the amateur shackles were

thrown off, the cheque books flew open. Sport

internationalised with extraordinary speed.

Overseas in the English Premier League (EPL),

it’s hard to find a home-grown player in a top

club’s roster.

The EPL is a market open to the best of

the best and that’s who it attracts. Players are

traded like the valuable commodities they are

and club owners are just as likely

to be overseas billionaires as local

grandees. Clubs are now big

investments and not simply the

sporting expression of a particular

community.

InterchangeBut back to the revolution, and the

blurring of football distinctions. A

television commentator on ABC

TV’s Offsiders program recently

noted it’s “all about foot skills” not

about sporting pedigree. If an elite

player has the athleticism to jump,

run, catch, kick and handpass to

the level required, then does it

matter what game he used to play?

The emergence of young Somali-

born players in the AFL comp

highlights this very nicely. Their

height, speed and balance haven’t

been honed playing Aussie Rules

but it is all there, to be channelled

as necessary. It’s what you can do,

not what you’ve been doing.

So who might be ‘swappable’ in

the eyes of cross-code enthusiasts?

My background is mixed with

a Melbourne childhood and teenage years in

Brisbane exposing me to Aussie Rules and both

rugby codes. So I’ll declare myself entitled to

choose. From the ranks of rugby league I’d

love to see the Melbourne Storm’s Greg Inglis

and Billy Slater playing AFL. The former’s

combination of power and balance would make

him a remarkable centre half forward, while

Slater’s speed and deceptive running would set

the midfield alight.

Beefy limitsScanning the AFL ranks, I’d be so tempted to

direct some of the tall timber to rugby union.

Players like Spider Everett and Tony Lockett

could’ve been huge in rugby. Their power and

defensive strength would have suited such a

collision-oriented game. And the Brisbane

Lions’ Jonathon Brown has the physical

presence you’d love in a top rugby league centre.

best soccer involves mastery of space and speed,

and of chess-like manoeuvres that create gaps in

a defensive pattern. It’s not an issue of tucking

the ball under one beefy bicep and charging at

the line. In soccer, skill not force is the active

element.

Fan dilemmaIn the end it’s skill that sells. Depending on the

code, the degree to which the skill has to be

combined with sheer physical

toughness varies. But the

essential point is this; what you

grew up playing in the backyard

might not be where you end up,

if sport becomes your life.

However, the ingrained

familiarity a lifelong player and

fan brings to a specific sport

is crucial to the culture of the

game. In Australia we’ve emerged

as a series of somewhat hostile

sporting camps. In the eye of the

true believer, his or her favourite

will be forever superior. So what

will it be like when players begin

to move from one sporting

citadel to another, when last

season’s AFL star is next season’s

rugby league revelation?

Trade optionsThe unspoken element in all

this is what has happened at

the Melbourne Storm rugby

league club. Discovering the

club officials have deliberately

rorted the salary cap has been

met with severe punishment with

premierships discounted and points erased. At the

base of it all is money and cheating, but it’s also

raised a heap of questions about restraint of trade

and player options in a wide sporting market.

Who knows how it will all play out because

right now the future is so uncertain. Like I said,

it’s a revolution. ■

MICk O’REGAN is the ABC Radio National’s online editor, former presenter of the Sports Factor and a passionate sports enthusiast.

The Union onlineFind links to firefighter campaign, industrial, training and oHs

news – updated weekly. subscribe to dispatch and oH&s Alert

newsletters or download a copy of The Australian Firefighter

magazine. The UFUA national website is at ufua.asn.au –

it’s worth a regular visit

Seeing him hit the advantage line with his great

upper body strength would be a real crowd

pleaser.

Perhaps that physical contest marks a line

that soccer players would find hard to cross. In

Australian Rules football and in rugby there’s a

focus on defence that means stopping the player,

not just the ball. The bone-jarring head-on

defence expected in these codes simply doesn’t

exist in soccer. It’s easy to understand why; the


laddering, ventilation and time taken to put water on the fire.

Statistically speaking, this research is well overdue seeing the US Fire Administration figures show that in 2008, 403,000 residential

structure fires killed close to 3,000

people and injured about 13,500.

They accounted for approximately

84% of all fire deaths, with direct

costs totalling about $US 8.5

billion. While firefighter deaths

remain steady at approximately 100

annually, tens of thousands more

are injured every year.

Delay grows riskThis study will no doubt prove

beneficial for brigades that are faced

with staffing short sightedness and I

encourage everyone faced with this

challenge to address the facts and

understand this fresh research. The

report can be downloaded from

the NIST website.

Backed up by NFPA standard

1710, this study now provides a stronger point to quantify what we have been saying all along. Despite economic challenges,

fire risks will always grow, and each minute of

delay in gaining control poses an increased risk of death, injury and property damage. Public officials need to understand that reducing

firefighter numbers is not the solution – it will

only put lives (including their own) at greater risk.

IN SOLIDARITY.TERRY PETERSExchange Fire Fighter/Canadian Correspondent ■The IAFF is the north American Union, the International Association of Fire Fighters.The NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory website nist.gov/bfrlThe NFPA is the US National Fire Protection Association

since contributing articles to the Australian Firefighter Magazine, I have written about a number of topics, from

firefighter cancer presumptive laws to grassroots lobbying campaigns. Regardless of the topic, the point I keep returning to is that

we need to get involved and utilise

not only our own initiatives but

those from other organisations as

well. If we seek, consult and lobby

by simply getting involved, this

can be incredibly rewarding for

not only city and small, township

fire brigades but potentially, for

internationally shared benefits

as well.

An example of this is a study

just released in the United States

that contains the most inspirational

findings. It is being carefully

watched across the boarder in

Canada through the IAFF and

I would encourage all UFUA

Members to also take note of it.

Key factorThis unbiased landmark study, released by the

U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST), shows that the size of firefighting crews has a

substantial effect on a fire service’s ability to

protect lives and property during residential fires.Now let’s put that into perspective. Of course,

if you don’t have enough firefighters at a fire it

is not only going to be more difficult to do the

job, but matters become a lot more dangerous for not only us but the public as well. Seems like common sense! But we continue to find

examples of that not being understood, no matter where we are in the world. If everyone

with the ability to rectify the problem listened to us, we would never have to argue the point! So ultimately, common sense is not so common

when it comes to staffing fire apparatus.

This study has now opened another door for this argument. It is backed up by credible data showing the effects of various situations that included 22 firefighting tasks. It found the time taken to perform the tasks varies greatly

depending on the staffing levels assigned. Until now, few scientifically based comparisons have been available.

Two to five trialThe NIST research explored a number of scenarios, including fires in residential structures,

where the vast majority of fatal fires occur. The researchers and their collaborators conducted

more than 60 controlled fire experiments to determine the relative effects of crew size, the

arrival time of the first fire crews and the spacing between other apparatus arriving.

Crews of two, three, four and five firefighters

were timed as they performed standard firefighting and rescue taks while extinguishing a live fire at a test facility. These included (just

to name a few) occupant search, rescue,

Size matters A landmark study by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technologies demonstrates the benefit of optimal crewing. Terry Peters checks it out

terry peters

THE LAST WORD

Canadian firefighters Sid Allman, Brad Collicutt, kevin Culos and Captain Carl Jones (l to r) from Powell River (British Columbia). Field experiments simulating

low-hazard residential structural firefighting and rescue demonstrate the superiority of four person minimum crews.

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