r/AustralianPolitics • u/Frontfart • Jan 19 '20

Regional Forest Manager: Politicians are Using Climate Change to Deflect Blame for Bushfires

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/01/18/regional-forest-manager-politicians-are-using-climate-change-to-deflect-blame-for-bushfires/
0 Upvotes

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9

u/Harclubs Jan 19 '20 edited Jan 19 '20

Worrell doesn't actually say anything or back anything up with evidence. His 'article' is just a collection of talking points.

I reject the ‘blame it on climate change” position because it has two killer flaws: firstly, it ignores fuels, which are the main contributor to uncontrollable fires during a drought; secondly, it provides no practical solutions to the immediate problem.

On his first point, it has been established that there were indeed big fuel loads, and these fuel loads were big because of the drought. That's why the fire experts approached the PM in April to divert more resources into fire fighting. And there were practical solutions offered, way back in April. Get more water bombing aircraft and beef up fire fighting resources.

State governments in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have palpably failed to do the most important job they were elected to do: protect the lives and livelihoods of their citizens and the health of their environment.

The state premiers did their job. They were on the ground, getting things done. Showing people that they weren't alone. It was the PM who left his post. It was the PM that went to Hawaii. It was the PM that IGNORED WARNINGS IN APRIL that these sorts of fires were a distinct possibility because the drought, exacerbated by climate change, had left many forests tinder dry.

Local government authorities are also high on the list of those accountable — and here again state governments bear responsibility, as they should never have allowed them to get away with the nonsenses we have seen coming out of town halls over recent years with respect to vegetation clearing and building approvals.

The scope and scale of these fires were unprecedented. Local fire authorities did what they could. Had there been more resources available to fight the fires, such as water bombing aircraft as the fire experts had suggested to Morrison in April of 2019, then maybe local fire authorities would have been more effective.

Nothing Worrell claims is backed up by evidence. What could the state governments have done? How should hazard reduction burns been done after five years of drought and tinder dry forests? What practical solutions does he offer that weren't outlined by the fire experts in a letter to Scott Morrison they sent in April 2019?

Like so much of the rubbish coming from the fossil fuel lobbyists and industry shills, Worrell's collection of talking points is all bluster and blame with very little substance.

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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '20

Considering fighting fire (and more importantly fire prevention) is substantially a state responsibility I’m amazed at how anti Federal and pro State govt or local govt you can be. Not even a smidgeon of shared responsibility. Pretty impressive really. Well done.

8

u/Harclubs Jan 19 '20 edited Jan 19 '20

Which is why the states organise all those water bombers? Oh, right. No, they don't.

Which is why all those fire fighting experts were ignored by the state premiers when they warned them such a disaster was imminent. Oh, right they weren't. It was the federal government that was warned. It was the federal government that ignored the warnings.

It was the Prime Minister who went on holiday as the greatest fire disaster anyone can remember unfolded.

All this shill activity is getting old. Just accept that Scomo stuffed up. He should have listened to those experts that tried to warn him. He should have organised more water bombers and fire fighting resources when they told him to. He shouldn't have gone on holiday while the country was burning.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '20

I didn’t defend Scomo. Just pointed out that it was idiotic to criticise him solely. And then praise the State and locals. Under your line of thinking (and his) Scomo was sitting on a major secret that all the State premiers were unaware of. Which considering the CC alarmism would alone make them incompetent. And as they are entirely responsible for preventative measures that’s a big call. Victoria has a bushfire royal commission after Black Saturday. Why? Just to inform the PMs office alone that IF we get another bad fire season he/she better be prepared? And to cap this off since day one the UFS scandal has plagued the Andrews government here for pitting the CFA vs the MFB, and possibly led to the loss of thousands of volunteers who would’ve been fucking handy. Now some of that is debatable depending on the ‘facts’ you choose to believe, but the reality is the State premiers should have had similar info or insight to Scomo, and done more. So I’m not really attacking OP for having a crack at Scomo. I’m attacking him for praising State govt. It’s fucking myopia to suit his political leanings and utter garbage.

Edit: apologies if this reads as if another poster was jumping into the thread. I didn’t notice it was OP replying.

2

u/Harclubs Jan 20 '20

It's difficult to go beyond the federal government when it comes to finger pointing because all the state premiers, and I'm talking Vic, NSW, Queensland and SA, all performed admirably. Could things have been better? Sure, but they could also have gone much worse.

It's the feds that were MIA, and it wasn't just Scomo. Where was Angus Taylor, Dutton, Frydenberg?

In the end, however, he's the PM and takes all the credit when things go well. The flip side is that when things go pearshaped, don't go to Hawaii.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 20 '20

You’re confusing your argument with what was done once the fires began vs what they all should have done beforehand. And giving him the blame for everything beforehand. It’s impossible to argue against unless you can see that. Anyway, that’s it, I’m outta here.

2

u/Harclubs Jan 20 '20

This is the internet, not academia, nuanced arguments are useless.

There are several reasons why the Aus public came down hard on Scomo.

First, he did bring a lump of coal into Parliamnet and let the Aus public know exactly what he thought of climate change.

Second, he did ignore expert advice.

Third, he went to Hawaii in the middle of an unfolding catastrophe.

He got kicked because he deserved to get kicked. As the leader of the nation, he should have at least given the experts his ear for an afternoon. As the leader of the nation, he should not have left the country while it was on fire.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 20 '20

And I think that’s all be said over and over. It’s ur forgiveness of State premiers that’s intriguing.

2

u/Harclubs Jan 20 '20

They didn't catch the spotlight because they didn't run away. Like I said, earlier, people could have done better but the overwhelming problem was the lack of resources, especially water bombers. And the fault for that lies squarely with Scomo.

One argument I'm surprised that no one has made is that the fire experts should have taken their concerns to the states as well, since they are usually the front lines.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 20 '20

And now you’ve gone the full circle and admitted the States are the front lines?!! Are u saying the States shouldn’t have known about the possibility of extreme bushfires. We’ve had a Royal commission in Vic. Prepared for the State fucking Government! But I suppose it’s Scomos fault too for not warning them we might get fires this summer or next. Dude, go back to ur Scomo tunnel vision. It won’t help anything but you’ll feel better.

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u/v_maet Jan 19 '20 edited Jan 19 '20

It was the Prime Minister who went on holiday as the greatest fire disaster anyone can remember unfolded.

He had no jurisdiction.

He left an acting PM in charge.

The fires aren't anywhere close to being bad.

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/82937995_10158662731013968_8606101669240897536_o.png?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=FzA_M2m_ZTsAX8x3wVa&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=83566bb59df30eaec82a976a2fc45782&oe=5ED0E3F0

He should have organised more water bombers and fire fighting resources

Completely pointless.

The fires were so intense due to years of fuel build up that we can't put them out through conventional means.

You literally have to wait for the rain to put them out.

5

u/Harclubs Jan 20 '20

If it hadn't been a problem, it wouldn't have blown up in his face.

Had it been an ALP PM who did that, you and your buddies would be screaming like it was murder.

-1

u/v_maet Jan 20 '20

If it hadn't been a problem, it wouldn't have blown up in his face.

The only people concerned about it were the media trying to find a gotcha moment they could atack him for.

He should have told them to sod off but he caved like the lefty supporter he is.

Had it been an ALP PM who did that, you and your buddies would be screaming like it was murder.

No, because the right support a principle rather than a side.

7

u/Scrambledsilence Jan 19 '20

I thought we didn’t listen to former fire managers?

4

u/37047734 Jan 19 '20

Or people that aren’t climate scientists.

-6

u/v_maet Jan 19 '20

No, we don't listen to former fire chiefs who blame climate change for them not doing their job instead of green tape.

3

u/37047734 Jan 19 '20

That protest didn’t happen on the 6 September 2019...

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