Bushfires a more Immediate Threat than Terrorism
by Joseph Toscano Wednesday December 06, 2006 at 11:08 PM
Repost from Anarchist Age Weekly Review

It is disturbing to see the piecemeal approach that is being used to tackle the bushfire menace in Victoria and the rest of Australia. Considering bushfires are set to become a permanent feature as greenhouse emissions increase, a national approach to the problem is a matter or urgency.

The damage caused by uncontrolled fires in 2006 will escalate dramatically as increasing temperatures and dwindling water supplies will make it more difficult to contain bushfires.

A national problem needs a national approach. Australians cannot expect the 20 or so fire authorities that are currently responsible for the control of bushfires in Australia, to continue to hold the line against what is a very real and dangerous threat. The Federal government should set up a national fire fighting service that could be mobilised to tackle fires local authorities are having trouble with. It is ridiculous that New Zealand fire fighters have been asked to come to Victoria to assist local fire fighters.

It is ironic a government that can fund the multiple military campaigns Australia is currently involved in, cannot fund a national fire fighting service. Uncontrolled fires pose a much more immediate and real threat than any nebulous terrorist threat has ever posed. The information gathered by a national fire fighting service could be used to devise a national plan of action to decrease the threat off bushfires.

No one fire fighting authority or State government has the necessary resources to fight a significant bushfire. Relying on overstretched local volunteer units is a recipe for disaster.

The early start of the bushfire season this year highlights the need for a Federally funded national fire fighting service that can co-ordinate a national response to the very real bushfire danger faced by an increasing number of Australians, and provide immediate assistance to local brigades when required.

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