>wasn't meant to question the fire-figthers who
>were brought in but the NSW Government
>actions in that fire. I checked the date, it was
>1997, just before the NSW elections, so it was
>as I suspected another example of electioneering.
Chris I suspect we'll be in election mode shortly too, sometime later this year. And I can't see Tasmanians being any more cynical about State politics than they already are, ever since a decision by Liberal and Labor members five years ago to force the primary vote (as a precursor to election) from 12 to 16 percent. It effectively neutered Green parliamentary representation which fell from five to one.
On a personal level - inside the forest industry - I don't see evidence of politicisation of the industry's firefighting wing, but the industry itself is obviously very politicised. Part of the day-to-day reality here.
Ralph
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