It's just been announced on the TV news,
that they have collected $25 million for
the victims of the fires - from Australians
throughout the country.

It makes me proud that we can put aside our
differences in times of tragedy, and come
together like this.

We do the right thing, when it matters!

And of course climate change has absolutely nothing to do with it.

A Royal Commission's a really good idea, IMHO.

People Against Live Exports & Intensive Farming
"The people responsible for this can be found at the Federal and State Governments"
I agree with you PALE but there are top level beaurocrats too!
We speak for anything else ecxept for the persons who are responsible to protects us, to protect our land, our properties, our forests from fires, etc.
We speak for bad weather, for high temperatures, for arsonists but we do not speak for the responsibilities of the State government of Victoria.
Weather, temperature and arsonists did not appeared now for first time,
What did the state government to protect its citizens?
Why the state government did not undertake its responsibilities to protect the lifes of innocent people?
Why they did not use miletary helicopters to rescue our people who blocked from fires?
Why did not care to create a strong body to wipe fires, save lifes, support people in needs?
Why did not advice and train the people in areas with high risks from fires?
Did not they know that we elected them to protect at least our lifes?
Listen the voices of our brothers and sisters, HELP, HELP!
No one was there to help them! They burned alive! The government, the authorities was extremely weak to support our people,
THE AUTHORITIES FAILED TO SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE, THEY FAILED TO SAVE THE LIFES OF OUR PEOPLE!
This is the real problem!
No it is very late for the premier of Victoria.
Now it is time for him to resign,
IT IS TIME FOR THE PREMIER FROM VICTORIA TO GO HOME!

Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Paleif,
The flaw in your argument is that if native vegetation is left in tact it acts as a barrier against weeds. Most weeds are opportunistic. Some weeds are inedible and unaffected by the pressence of cattle i.e. Salvation Jane (Patterson's curse), Blackberry, Lantana, Easter Cassia, small leaf pepper trees, cape weed, Cirsium vulgare (thistle) et al these spread rapidly in disturbed (grazed environments). Some are poisonous to cattle Poison peach, Ricinus communis come to mind. Some weeds are spread by cattle, Bidens pilosa (cobbler’s pegs) and Parietaria judaica (Asthma weed). Some weeds poison other plants i.e. Camphor Laurel.
Many pasture weeds die in heat laying the ground bare for erosion.
In reality the weeds are a product of man’s intervention first and poor practices in the past. Clearing for paddocks has caused water table rises and salt destruction.

Much of the marginal grazing areas are being affected by desertification from grazing and the effect on natural balances (in some cases over grazing in times of drought).
Cloven hooves cause soil compaction see aerial photographs around water holes.
While not opposed to farming cattle sheep however in tight top cover environments like undisturbed riparian/ eucalyptus forests fodder is limited…because of low light levels.

Grazing has *scientifically* shown to do damage and even introduce weeds which in the long run reduce carbon stabilization.

Cattle families are reluctant to admit that previous practices caused problems and scream rabid greenie if criticised but are unable to prove scientifically their claims.
Like I said it’s more complex than you claim.

BTW the reason why granny left in 1916ish was because of the deteriorating ability for the land to support cattle at economic levels (the station went broke).
I am not 90+ years old despite what you may think. I have years experience in farm life and about 7 years experience in ecological revegetation and training how about you

Ah Dickie, you should have been a public servant. Easy peasy, just
force people to spend 100 Grand plus each on a bunker, that will solve
it.

Never mind all the other options, like leaving home for the day,
or even this stuff:

http://www.barricadegel.com/

I note the article in today's West Australian, mentioning that
the 2007 Victorian parliamentary inquiry into bushfires recommended
that prescribed burns should be tripled, but it was never done.

*I now honour you both with the One Star Hoppy badge for Chunder and an official entry into Australia’s Hall of Drongos*

Ah, when you scorn an old battle axe, she does not forget! Perhaps
that booby prize of a tray of anuses awarded to dickie recently, has left its scars :)

Examinator, you keep harping on about weeds, but conveniently forget
the forest litter.

"The people responsible for this can be found at the Federal and State Governments"
I agree with you PALE but there are top level beaurocrats too!*

ASymeonakis,
For once we agree. Terms of reference must to be watched very carefully... We need a 'Independent' Commissioner.

Watch enquiry staff who co ordinate, handle statements.

1.- I would advise anybody with something to say about fire breaks not being maintained – burning off fire break roads not being maintained to jump onto a talk back radio.

2.- Write it down and post it to Editors of news papers. Staff sometimes employed by beaurocrats has a way of shaving evidence.

Regardless or not if someone lit the fires had these services been upheld people would have got out..

If you bull doze and back burn it will keep that area under control for quite some time. So if there is a fire it’s controllable. It will only travel at a walking pace.
So the guilty beaurocrats should go to goal with the others.

*They Failed To save the life of our people!*

Yes- and the Animals too. The Cattle and surviving animals are walking around burnt and dazed. We need more people out there helping them also.


Do you realise that’s the first time ASymeonakis,you have ever said that. 'Our people'. Sad that something like this has to happen before people can come together.

Hey Belly, how are you doing holding up against Dickies lot. Listen any chance you could write a stack deck and fax it to police head quarters about that volunteer fire fighter you mentioned?

examinator,
You didn’t wish to debate me in the following three threads- despite opening two of them.

Trade Barriers Good for Australia?
Sea Kittens
Rules for OLO
Thank you Foxy for that Information.

So when you have the manners to do that I will respond to you.
BTW weeds are only 'part its overgrowth of fodder leaves dried ungrazed grass. You sound like you learnt in the same paddock as Dickie TBO Good age match too BTSOI.

Yabby How much Hay are MLA sending?