We all desperately hope that the people of NSW
will avoid a similar fate to the one that some
Victorians experienced when a heatwave hit
Melbourne prior to 7 Feb. 2009. It was those
who had the least capacity to insulate themselves
from it that suffered the most.

Victoria recorded 374 deaths, a 62 percent increase
compared with the year before. When Black Saturday arrived
Melbourne's temperature soared but it wasn't just the
heat that claimed lives - the devastating fires took 173 souls
and whole communities.

We might be a nation prone to bushfires - but why would anyone
want us to not discuss the possibility of a link with
climate change and future possible predictions of what
could be in our future. We need to discuss the possibility of
having more bushfires - and how to deal with them.
Doing anything less is irresponsible.

Wendy Kramer summed things up rather aptly when she said:

"Whether or not it's unseemly for Green politicians
to raise the spectre of future cataclysmic climate
change when bushfires are still raging out of control,
there's no doubt that many of us who looked up to bruised
and belligerent skies swirling with ash and a drift of
incinerated gum leaves had to wonder 'is this what the
future will be like?'"

Yes Belly the PC has gone to dangerous in some circumstances.
A copper told me how the appointment of light small women has made
some jobs quite difficult.
They try to pair a male with a female officer but
it is not always possible. Some of the people they deal with realise
the male police will divert to protect the female police and so gives
the crims the advantage.
I asked about a pub brawl, he just rolled his eyes and shrugged.

Love me or loath me truth holds value for me, a 1945 model I think young and learn new things every day.
Self praise is no recommendation but I was a heart and sole Union official.
It hurt to see men and women of National Parks trodden on by the Hob nailed boots of PC grade males and females, who cared nothing for the wreckage even workplace self harm and suicides.
My words Paul shine a spotlight on why we never will see eye to eye on politics.
IF WE HAVE THE GUTS to promote on ability, about the same numbers of women will rise to the top, BUT THEY WILL BE THE BEST NOT THE WORST.
My anger knows no bounds fires brand new ones are threatening not just homes but to kill again.
I could write a simple list numbering no more than 20 wishes and wants,that would have almost every fire fighter support, and stop future fires.
The enemy of truth Political Correctness will/would again forget these days *and kill fire management that works.
Paul think before you condemn an honest mans thoughts.
I have had a young female member break down and cry in my arms, because she reported *Public Homosexual acts in front of her in daylight* but her team leader a woman laughed and told her to toughen up!
MY MEMBER WITNESS SUCH ACT IN THE TENS, MY VISIT TO POLICE SAW ME TOLD ANY ACTION THEY TRIED IN THAT PARK MET WITH ANTI GAY CLAIMS AGAINST THEM, PC and I dislike each other.

That is an interesting remark Bazz.

I have been told by my policeman uncle that having women in the force has made life easier for the men in many ways, especially with dealing with women and children's issues in the community, but also the female officers are known to calm down some violent offenders in violent situations much better than the male officers.

If women have to accept male midwives, then men should have no problems dealing with female police officers...

Suzie on Line said;
women in the force has made life easier for the men in many ways,

Yes, that is very true and I have heard that a few times.
The difficulty is they never know what the next job is.
Even an "obvious" domestic may turn out to be a very violent confrontation.

I don't know what the solution is, but the health and safety rules
if they apply to police, would handicap the job allocation.
I hope that they make it very clear to women joining up what they may face.
One female inspector that I know did the Kokoda Track easily and I
don't think any crim would stand much chance against her.

Suseonline, "If women have to accept male midwives, then men should have no problems dealing with female police officers"

Are midwives called upon very often to grapple with their 'clients'?

Good luck with talking woman to a crystal methhead with a weapon, or to the OMG bikies who stormed the police station on the Gold Coast to threaten the police inside. Or using the 'feminine side' to respond to the bomb threats they are directing at individual police and the minister. I'd take the last mentioned very seriously.

Why not accept the fundamental honesty and practicality of what Bazz is saying though, which is horses for courses? Otherwise others will come back with examples where the prevailing political correctness of feminism dominated political policy results in multiple ambulances on the scene to move a patient because s/he is larger or access is inconvenient, but could have been handled by two men?

As your life ebbs away you wouldn't be thinking, "Oh joy, isn't affirmative action wonderful, it took two ambulances with two paired genders to get two men with muscle to move me to the ambulance.....",

then

"Drat, that took too long! Make that just one coroner and the constable is now helping drag me out of my own house in a body bag".

Women and men are equal but they are different too. Vive la différence!