Bec_young mum of 2, "We had in years past put our firebreaks on the road side, which was then common practice. That we can no longer do,"

Agree. We lost a lot of fencing. We changed to fire breaks on the inside of the fence line, which sacrifices expensive fencing, and reduces the area for stock grazing.

You will not be convincing any of the 'progressives' on here, who have PC points to score and are always happy for others to pay for their idealism.

Paul,

No one has accused the bonehead greens of starting the fires, only making the consequences worse. Yes the military should pay for the damage directly caused by the fire they caused, and the councils that instituted the idiot legislation preventing home owners from protecting their houses should also be made to pay.

In one of the councils in Sydney, a home owner requested to remove a tree bough from a road side tree that stretched over his driveway, the council reviewed it and refused. The bough fell and damaged a car, and the owner successfully sued the council. The council's attitude has notably changed as a result. The same should be applied to bush near residential dwellings.

Personally I would like to see the green councillors that pushed this moronic policy publicly flogged.

<I want them (the Army) held responsible and made to pay.>

Agreed, but who's back pocket will that come out of?

<You might also like to tell us the new timetable for fire preparation, controlling the fuel load and back burning - if indeed the season is extending?>

Not sure about the city but here in the country we do what fire protection we are allowed all year round...because there is always a first time. This "I was going to do that next weekend because you said nothing would happen this week" attitude is just irresponsible and annoying. (Not meaning you in particular, it just seems to be the current mood)

Leading economists have over-whelmingly rejected Tony Abbotts climate change policy and backed carbon pricing.
Front page today's SNH.
The Coalitions scheme will cost taxpayers $2.88 billion over 4 tears without compensation as was the case with Labors carbon pricing scheme.
As long as the big polluters in business are not taxes Abbott is satisfied.

Parrot,

Please get off your soap box. A week or two of hot dry weather in October is not unprecedented, the 6 year stretch of nearly continuous wet weather (after the climate hysterics were predicting permanent drought) meant that an abnormally high fuel load had accumulated, and huge fires were almost certain.

My gripe is primarily with criminalizing homeowners that try to take reasonable precautions to protect their property.

Back burning every 7 years may work well under normal circumstances, but in circumstances where fuel load has increased way beyond normal rates, these need to be reviewed, and the call should be made by the RFS and not a greenie pin head pencil pusher living safely in the city.

SM evidence please.
"Personally I (SM) would like to see the green councillors that pushed this moronic policy publicly flogged."
SM I though you would be more the hung, drawn and quartered type. None of this nambe pambe public floggings. Please reserve a front row seat for SM. Oh! by the way, don't forget to bring you knitting. LOL
Remember, evidence please.