Who’s right – The RFS, conservationists, farmers, politicians or firefighters?
Decide carefully. If you live in the Blue Mountains or bushfire-prone country, your home could literally depend on it.
Fire lessons lost in smoke
NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott is due to respond to the Coonabarabran (Wambelong) fire inquiry by August 20, but agricultural bodies, fire service groups, and academics are split on how the state government should best apply the recommendations.
Disaster relief funds may have ended up in pockets of NSW RFS employees, ICAC hears
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in government funding for disaster relief may have ended up in the pockets of New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) employees, a corruption inquiry in Sydney has been told.
Putting the Rural back into the Rural Fire Service
There is no better time that “Right Now” to implement State Government changes that can help put the “Rural” back into the “Rural Fire Service”.
Relocation of the Rural Fire Service Head Office was always inevitable and now that the public has been informed of the pending relocation, perhaps it is timely to look at decentralisation.
Moree sparks debate on emergency volunteers
Councillor John Tramby raised the issue at last week’s council meeting, saying rural firefighters were not only volunteering their time to save lives and properties – sometimes they were taking a financial hit to do so.
Liberal MP David Elliott becomes the new Emergency Services Minister
Now the Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP is responsible for all emergency services in NSW after being announced as the new Emergency Services Minister today.
It’s a significant step up, but Mr Elliott is looking forward to steering the portfolio in the right direction.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott rewarded for a decade of RFS service
Prime Minister, Tony Abbott was awarded a medal for his volunteer work at Davidson Rural Fire Brigade, where he regularly volunteers.
The Daily Telegraph captures the moment with photos and text.
Green Light for Bushfire Mitigation Projects
NSW National Parks, the Forestry Corporation of NSW and local governments have received more than $2.5 million in funding to support activities to manage bush fire risks.
The Bushfire Risk Management Grants Scheme will fund 126 projects as part of the Natural Disaster Resilience Program, which is administered by the Commonwealth and state government.
An interview with Group Captain, Warren Kimber
Listen to Group Captain, Warren Kimber, from Bombala on the NSW South Coast telling the ABC Radio’s Jen Hunt about the issues Volunteers are facing today under the bloated NSW Rural Fire Service bureaucracy.
Turf War at the Fire Front
It’s claimed a long running turf war over the control of fire fighting in NSW is affecting fire ground operations as the NSW Rural Fire Service faces internal criticism about its accountability and review processes following major fires. Gregg Borschmann reports.