Councils are sick of working through the muddied waters of the costly RFS administration.
Employer Incentives
The Queensland State Government offers payroll tax exemptions for the employers of fire service volunteers whist they are away from their normal job and are engaged in emergency service tasks.
Would this be a good idea for NSW?
A message to The Phantom
Now one knows the true identity of The Phantom, he sends us some words of wisdom for publication in The Volunteer Firefighter.
This post includes a letter to The Phantom and his original article.
A Letter to The Greens
I listened to you speaking on the ABC yesterday (3rd Jan 2014), in which you attributed the recent bushfires in the Adelaide Hills to global warming/climate change.
At the same time, I observe that southern Australia has always experienced hot, dry, windy days in summer, and periodic droughts have been experienced ever since rainfall records began.
Personal information shall not be disclosed
The VFFA has received reports from numerous NSW RFS members that their personal information has been disclosed to the Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) against their wishes.
Leave and Live – a Stupid Policy
Former CSIRO fire expert David Packham said political fear following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria had restrained objective analysis and research into bushfire management, and the current warning could result in people dying on the roads when they would have been safer at home.
Not fire weather but personal observation – David Packham
Those who have allowed this threat to manifest are the truly culpable, no wonder the Victorian Government was prepared to pay out $104m for their failure in the Kinglake fire to avoid the Supreme Court judgement.
Rewarding Volunteers through the Tax System
Michael Eburn has published an interesting article on his Australian Emergency Law Blog (December 19, 2014) that is worth a read. Click HERE to view the entire article and feel free to add some comments. Extracts from the article below: The NSW Volunteer Fire Fighters
Aircraft for Firefighting (CFA)
There is a new video on Aircraft for Firefighting on the CFA website. Link: news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/watch-firebombing-safety-video.html This video provides information and explanation on Pre Detemined Disptach, The new Large Air Tankers (LATS), VIC State Fleet, Firebombing with an Air Attack Supervisor
Thank You and Merry Christmas
As Christmas 2014 fast approaches, the VFFA Executive expresses its sincere thanks to all our members, most particularly our newest members that have joined this year. To all that have played an integral role in the managing of our ever