Col. D. Hackworth - United Firefighters Union Australia

Transcription

The Austr alian
FIRE FIGHTER
VOL 42 ISSUE 5
WE ROAD TEST
LEIGH HUBBARD
THE WARRIOR WHO
TURNED PEACENIK...
Col. D. Hackworth
YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK
15 NOVEMBER RALLY
FOR DETAILS: Contact your Branch or www.actu.asn.au
RESERVISTS:
YOU’RE
PROTECTED.
OFFICE OF RESERVE SERVICE PROTECTION
PROTECTING RESERVISTS PROTECTING AUSTRALIA
In 2001 the Government introduced legislation that requires
employers to release Reservists to undertake Defence service.
The Defence Reserve Service (Protection) Act 2001 also makes it
unlawful for an employer to discriminate against, disadvantage
or dismiss an employee or prospective employee for rendering
Defence service.
Under the Act, Reservists can lodge complaints with the Ofﬁce
of Reserve Service Protection for perceived discrimination or
disadvantage in their civilian employment, educational status
and partnership or practice rights.
Complaints could include:
+ an employer refusing to hire or threatening to dismiss a person
because of their Reserve commitments
+ an employer refusing to allow a person to undertake
Defence service
+ an employee being refused leave or being made to use annual
or long service leave to undertake Defence service
+ a student being excluded from a course or unit of study for
undertaking Defence service.
Reservists are reminded they should give employers reasonable
notice of their expected Defence commitments.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
THE OFFICE OF RESERVE
SERVICE PROTECTION
CALL 1800 001 696
VISIT WWW.DEFENCE.GOV.AU/RESERVES
EMAIL ORSP@DEFENCE.GOV.AU
5
Contents
31
Branch Contacts 2
Editor’s Line 3
National Voice 5-6
Fire Professional 7-11
Aviation - Sydney Airport
Col. D. Hackworth 13-15
The Warrior who turned Peacenik
We Road Test Leigh Hubbard 17-19
World News 20-21
Terror Laws an Attack on Dissent
Centre Spread 22-23
Your Rights at Work Rally
I.R. - Canberra Rally 24-25
Mates & Memories 27-29
Where are they now?
Interview with Paul Caica (former National Secretary)
Travel 31-33
FNQ, food, food, and more food!
38
Health & Safety 34-35
South Australian Chalk & Cheese
Testing Turnout Gear
Inter Action 36-37
100 Questions
22
ON THE COVER
MFB Firefighter Donna Wheatley listens as
Victorian Trades Hall Council President and
UFU Victorian Branch Secretary Peter
Marshall addresses a huge rally in
Melbourne’s CBD to protest the Howard
Government’s IR reforms. Donna was joined
in the march by hundreds of
firefighters representing the MFB, CFA,
Aviation Branch and Private Sector.
See the centrespread in this issue for full
pictorial.
Sporting Pursuits 38
SA “Wombats” ready for 2005 World Police and
Fire Game
Branching Out...
... Western Australia 39-40
... South Australia 41
National Executive 43
Ian Hills 44
A Short Story
Buying Guide insert
The Australian Fire Fighter
1
United Firefighters Union of Australia
National Executive Officer:
Leigh Hubbard
National President:
Ron Hanna
National Secretary:
Peter Marshall
Editor Australian Firefighter:
Matt Morgan
NATIONAL OFFICE
410 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy 3065
Tel: (03) 9419 8811 Fax: (03) 9419 9258
NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH
Secretary: Craig Harris
267 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9267 5552 Fax: (02) 9267 6304
VICTORIAN BRANCH
Secretary: Peter Marshall
410 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Vic. 3065
Tel: (03) 9419 8811 Fax: (03) 9419 9258
QUEENSLAND BRANCHC
Secretary: Mark Walker
Level 1, 286 Montague Road,
West End, Qld. 4101
Tel: (07) 3844 0366 Fax: (07) 3844 0367
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCHH
Secretary: Phil Harrison
148 South Road, Torrensville, SA 5031
Tel: (08) 8352 7211 Fax: (08) 8234 1031
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BRANCH
Secretary: Dave Bowers
63 Railway Parade, Mt Lawley, WA 6050
Tel: (08) 9272 3222 Fax: (08) 9271 2666
AVIATION BRANCH
Secretary: Mick Farrell
86A O’Shannassy Street, Sunbury, Victoria 3429
Tel: (03) 9746 3722 Fax: (03) 9746 3766
TASMANIA BRANCH
Secretary: Richard Warwick
379 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart, Tas. 7000
PO Box 20, North Hobart 7002
Tel: (03) 6234 9331 Fax: (03) 6234 9505
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY BRANCH
Secretary: Brett Baulman
Unit 4, DMA Offices Lathlain Street
Belconnen, ACT 2617
Tel: (02) 6251 3708 Fax: (02) 6253 1573
CONTACT THE AUSTRALIAN FIREFIGHTER
Email: ufujournal@vtown.com.au
Snail Mail
The Editor, The Australian Firefighter
C/o UFU, 410 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Victoria 3065
All editorial in this journal is subject to copyright and
permission must be granted before reprinting any copy.
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The Editorials printed in this issue are the sole responsibility of the Editor and are
not necessarily the views of the publisher or printer. Comments, opinions or
suggestions of authors reflect their own views, and do not necessarily reflect the
opinion of the editors, the UFU, or the publishers. It is not possible for The
Australian Firefighter to ensure that advertisements which are published in this
journal comply with all aspects of the Trade Practices Act 1974, and the responsibility rests on the person, company, or advertising agency who submit the advertising for publication.
2
"STOP
PRESS"
Dave Bowers has won the October election for
the role of Secretary (W.A.). Everyone in the UFU
wishes Dave all the best in his new role, and he
will certainly feature in a 'get to know you' article
in the next edition. Dave is 48 years of age, and
is very much looking forward to the new
challenge.
Advertising: Advertisements in this publication are solicited from organisations and businesses
on the understanding that no special considerations, other than those normally accepted in
respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.
Editorial Note: The views expressed, except where expressly stated otherwise, do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Management Committee of The Australian Firefighter.
Articles are accepted for publication on the basis that they are accurate and do not defame any
person.
Due to the difficulties involved in checking sources NO responsibility is accepted for error or
omissions although every effort to vet material is made.
Not a Phone List: It is the desire of the publishers that the The Australia Firefighter Buying Guide
be used for the benefit of its members and valued sponsors. Therefore we ask you to respect the
intention of the Australian Firefighter Buying Guide and not to use it for the purposes of telemarketing and soliciting of donations. Any person, group or company who decides to use the directory in this way is deemed as having accepted the following rates and becomes legally liable to pay
these amounts:
1. An amount of $20,000 to a charity nominated by the publisher for the use of the
directory as a mailing list.
2. An amount of $50,000 to a charity nominated by the publisher for the use of the
directory as a telemarketing list.
editor’s
Line
... and, the editor - with the new look moustache
New look, new image,
new features...
... same editor
Welcome to the brand-new Australian Firefighter! We’ve given your union journal a much-needed facelift, chopped
a few bits out, put colour throughout, and generally made the mag. much more reader-friendly as a whole. It’s taken
us a lot of blood, sweat, tears and a few homicides to get it to this stage, so I hope you all enjoy the new format.
You’ll notice quite a few changes from the old journal. For a start, we made the decision to do away with the Branch
reports, as we’ve finally realised that by the time the mag. comes out, each State’s “hot news” is well dated. Instead,
we’ve opted for an article on a specific issue particular to whichever State chooses to contribute.
It’s no secret by now, that I’m a bit of a history buff. To this end, we’re keeping the ‘Late Notification’ (when space
allows), but also from time to time there’ll be a sort of “Where Are They Now” page, if we can get the material. Enjoy!
As I’ve made a point of doing in the past, I don’t want this magazine to become a spreadsheet of doom and gloom.
At the moment we’re facing some of the most radical and threatening changes to workplace law in the history of
the union movement. Believe me, this topic is well-covered within the pages of this issue. However, I’ve tried to make
a conscious effort to include stuff that will be of interest to folks who need a break from the bad news. So, have a
look at the travel stuff and the great colour centrespread and the other good things that lie in wait beyond this page.
So without any further waffle from me, sit back and flick through your new journal proudly brought to you by the
United Firefighters’ Union of Australia!
Matt Morgan
3
Protect your rights at work
National Day of Community Protest
Tuesday November 15
www.rightsatwork.com.au
The Howard Government is
attacking your rights at work
1
2
3
4
5
6
The federal government's laws radically change
the nature of Australia's workplaces. Some of
the key changes are:
1. Abolish protection from unfair
dismissal for 4 million workers
employed in companies with less
than 100 staff
2. Allow employers to put workers onto
individual contracts that cut takehome pay and reduce employment
conditions to only 5 minimum
standards – workers who refuse to
sign may fear being sacked
3. Change the way minimum wages
are set to make them lower
4. Effectively abolish the award safety net
and replace it with just 5 conditions:
• a minimum hourly rate of pay
• 10 days sick leave
• 4 weeks annual leave
• unpaid parental leave
• 38 hour week, but no extra pay for
overtime or work on weekends
How can you help the campaign
to protect your rights at work?
Union members, employees and concerned community
members everywhere need to send a strong message to the
Howard Government that Australia does not support its attack
on basic rights at work.
What you can do to support the union campaign:
• Tell your work colleagues, family and friends about the
Howard Government’s plans.
• Be active through your union - strong unions are the best
way to protect your rights at work.
• Grab an ACTU campaign pack of information and materials.
• Register online to keep up to date with campaign events
www.rightsatwork.com.au
• Let your local Liberal or National Party Federal MP know that
you oppose the Government’s attacks on basic rights at work.
Australia-wide hookup
Many workers will lose conditions like
weekend, shift and public holiday rates;
overtime; redundancy pay and
allowances.
5. Keep unions out of workplaces and
reduce the capacity for workers to
bargain collectively with their employer
6. Take away the powers of the
independent Industrial Relations
Commission
www.actu.asn.au
Access all your Rights at Work campaign materials at www.rightsatwork.com.au or call the ACTU Hotline on 1300 362 223
Authorised by G Combet ACTU 393 Swanston Street Melbourne 3000
national
Voice
Howard’s
‘Workchoice’
is no choice
DON’T BE FOOLED BY THE
BIG LIES - YOUR CONDITIONS
ARE AT RISK
Leigh Hubbard
Debate over the industrial relations changes proposed by the
Our previous advice to members that these radical changes are
Howard Government is heating up, with the governments $30m
bad for workers and bad law is confirmed. In fact, the laws as out-
hard sell now underway and legislation expected in Parliament
lined in the 60 page Work Choices booklet are worse than we
by early November. Despite the plummeting popularity of his
anticipated in many respects.
government the PM appears determined to push the legislation
through by Christmas, with a start date of 1 February or 1 March.
Where’s the heat for firefighters?
While we can’t stop it, we can make a difference - the opinion
polls are already showing the effect of the ACTU campaign. So
please make a contribution to the campaign.
For firefighters the worst aspects are:
•
Make every effort to attend the National Day of Community
because they are directly employed by the State, it is unlikely
at every major rally point around the country and even in regional
that future Liberal/National Governments will hang on to
areas where the Sky Channel broadcast will go to hundreds of
small state IR systems.
venues around the country from 9am Vic/NSW time. Call your
•
The Senate will only be allowed a short inquiry (based only in
around the country. Members are encouraged to make a short
submission and email it to the Secretary of the Senate
Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee at
eet.sen.aph.gov.au. Go to the committee web-site at
www.aph.gov.au for further information.
The capacity for employers to offer individual contracts at any
time, even during the life of an EBA (which is currently
unlawful).
Canberra) into this complex legislation, despite calls by the ACTU
for a full investigation and for the Senate Committee to move
porations power. While NSW and Qld firefighters, who rely
on their state systems, may be protected in the short term
Protest on Tuesday November 15. The UFU will be there in force
branch for details or check www.actu.asn.au for details.
The undermining of the fairer state systems by use of the cor-
•
It will be unlawful to have many clauses in agreements
including commitments that future agreements will be
collective, agreements that prohibit the offering of AWA’s,
union rights such as trade union training leave and many
more.
5
national Voice
•
training) Award standards can only be basic minimum entitle
Easier access to courts for essential services employers to
ments - so additional leave for firefighters may not be able to
cancel protected industrial action where public safety and
be included in our awards.
health are jeopardised.
These are just a few of the more obvious effects. In the short
•
Abolish unfair dismissal for employees in companies
employing less than 100 (including regular casuals). This will
term, as firefighters, you won’t feel much heat from the legisla-
be catastrophic not only for those dismissed but for those
tion. But imagine eight Liberal/National Governments in the
who will now be too scared to speak up about low pay or
states and territories rather than the current domination by Labor.
injustices at work. Probation for new employees is extended
While we complain about the attitude of Labor in government
to 6 months and all seasonal employees are excluded no
those complaints will pale against the use that future Coalition
matter the size of the company.
governments make of this legislation.
So we have no room to be complacent. At the recent Australian
•
Attack stronger unions by changing the rules for protected
action, abolishing pattern bargaining, making right of entry
Fire Authorities Conference and at ‘leading edge’ fire services in
by union officials much tougher and making it easier for
the UK and US significant changes to work practices and condi-
employers to organise freedom of association actions (for
tions are already being mooted or introduced. Part-time crewing,
example action taken because workers are not in a union or
reduced appliance availability based on ‘risk assessment’ (espe-
action against an employer because they use AWA’s).
cially at night), motor bikes despatched to alarms, changes to rest
and recline and the rostering systems are all being raised as fire
These are just some of the changes that will affect workers in
services are asked to do more with less. If we can’t mobilise now
every industry and the ability of unions to provide support and
and put the heat on the Howard Government then we miss an
protection. You know how vulnerable many young people are
opportunity to send a signal to our own employers.
now, even with stiffer laws and protection. Exploitation will be rife
with the combination of these new laws.
As a proud, community-focussed profession and union we also
have to care about what’s going to happen to our partners, kids,
friends and neighbours under these new laws.
Where to from here?
Far from being evolutionary, this is radical change. Of course,
unions have adapted to the Workplace Relations Act over the last
The end of fairness - the rise of exploitation!
9 years, and no doubt we will learn to work with the new legislaTo shift more power to the employer the new legislation will:
tion. However, for around 4 million mostly lower paid and non-
•
union workers out there, things are about to get a lot tougher.
Limit the role of the AIRC (the independent umpire) by
removing its power to set the minimum wage and adjust
award classification rates (now the 5 member Fair Pay
Commission). The needs of the low paid, fairness and the
public interest will no longer be factors taken into account in
setting the minimum wage.
•
well organised. We can’t afford not to fight these changes, but at
the same time we need to be better prepared and organised in
every fire station and every workplace Over the next few months
let’s cause John Howard some grief and see if we can’t wring
some changes out of the Senate. Already we’ve seen Barnaby
Make it easier to impose individual contracts which only have
Joyce and other Senators flex their muscle. The polls must be
to meet 5 minimum conditions (rate of pay, annual leave,
making some of the pollies very nervous.
personal/carers leave, parental leave and 38 hour week
averaged over 12 months). For hundreds of thousands this
will mean the end to penalty rates, overtime rates,
allowances, meal breaks and other conditions that had to be
applied because currently AWA’s have to at least match
award standards.
•
And no union or group of workers is an island, no matter how
Reduce award standards so that those who can’t bargain will
lose a number of rights. Awards will lose 12 allowable
You can help by:
•
•
•
•
Organising a station visit to your local MHR or
Senator, especially in marginal seats
Ringing talk-back radio or writing a letter to the paper
Signing the ACTU postcard that will be delivered to
the Prime Minister in late November
Talking to work colleagues, family and friends about
the impact of the changes
matters (more than the 4 announced in May) and others will
be modified. Part-time provisions must be in all awards (think
about the push for part-time firefighters to backfill leave and
6
Most of all you can help by attending the ACTU national
day of community protest on 15 November and other
events.
Answering the call
fire
Professional
Aviation Rescue & Fire Fighting at Sydney Airport
Re-printed with permission from Australian Aviation (August 2005)
Few would appreciate that the aviation
fire-fighters at Sydney Airport responded to
over 1200 incidents and emergencies last
year alone. The airport’s Aviation Rescue
and Fire Fighting (ARFF) service dealt with
callouts ranging from aircraft related fires
and fuel spills to first aid calls and building
alarms.
Station 1, which houses the main ARFF headquarters, is situated
on reclaimed land between the parallel runways just off Foreshore
Drive, and is responsible for the southern half of the airport – largely the runway and taxiways of the parallel runways which extend
into Botany Bay. Opened in mid 1994 to coincide with the commissioning of the third runway (16L/34R), the modern two story
complex houses two Mills-Tui Mk.7 ultra large fire vehicles (ULFV)
and a Mack Cougar Domestic Response Vehicle (DRV).
Station 2, a satellite station with a control tower
Sydney’s is the busiest of the 17 ARFF stations operated around the country by
Airservices Australia, and yet passengers
passing through these airports would probably be unaware the role ARFF units play in
ensuring they are protected in the event of an
emergency.
Whether it be a car accident on one of the
busy roads leading in to the airport, a person
suffering a heart attack in the terminals or a
full scale major aircraft accident airside, ARFF
has to be fully equipped and ready to respond
“ARFF has to be
fully equipped
and ready to
respond
to emergencies
around the
airport in a matter of
minutes
– literally.”
style Fire Control Centre (FCC), is located near
the intersection of the main north/south
(34/16) and east/west (07/25) runways,
opposite the international terminal. Station 2 is
responsible for fire and rescue coverage of the
northern half of the airport, including the international and domestic aprons, the Qantas
maintenance base, the international freight terminal and the general aviation area. Station 2
operates two ULFV tenders, identical to those
at station 1.
to emergencies around the airport in a matter
What used to be Sydney’s primary station prior
of minutes – literally.
to the opening of the third runway, Station 2 is
responsible for operating the FCC, observing all aircraft movements for signs of any emergency not noticed by air traffic con-
STATIONS
trollers in the tower or pilots. Duty personnel rotate through the
Due to the airport’s large area of 800 hectares, Airservices operates two ARFF stations at Sydney, allowing its tenders to reach an
aircraft incident anywhere on the airfield in less than three minutes
from a call out.
FCC during their shifts.
Between the two stations, 64 full-time staff work in rostered shifts
of two 10-hour days and two 14-hour nights, back to back, with
the subsequent four days off. In their spare time, some ARFF crew
7
fire professional
can work as retained fire-fighters for the NSW Fire Brigades
(NSWFB) at metropolitan stations.
ARFF personnel have to maintain a high level of physical fitness.
Each station has at least one physical training instructor and fitness facilities are available for use on either a team or individual
basis. Normally each shift would include a specific time period
dedicated for physical fitness activities.
THE TENDERS
Sydney Airport is classified by CASA as a Category 9 airport. The
category rating is based on the overall length of the longest aircraft
normally using the airport and the maximum width of the fuselage.
ARFF Station 1 houses two Mills-Tui ULFVs and one Mack Cougar Domestic Response
Vehicle. Station 1 is also the headquarters for Sydney’s ARFF.
A Category 9 airport handles aircraft with fuselage lengths up to
A declared aircraft emergency that has less urgency, such as a
76 metres and widths of seven metres. The ARFF requirement for
minor equipment failure or indicator error, is answered by a local
Category 9 airports is a minimum of three vehicles with a com-
standby response using ARFF’s own resources, ready to assist
bined minimum water carrying capacity of 24,300 litres.
should a full emergency develop.
Sydney’s four Mills-Tui Stryker 6 - 9500 ULFVs are powered by
Aside from aircraft emergencies, fire protection of airport infra-
two V8 Detroit Diesel turbocharged engines (530 kW/710 hp @
structures such as terminals and fuel farms are also high priorities.
2300 rpm). The Stryker 6 carries 10,400 litres of water housed in
These are very important pieces of aviation infrastructure, the loss
the centre of the tender and can be thrown from the roof mounted
of which would seriously impact the nation’s air transport system.
monitor (turret) up to 77 metres at a rate of 4760 litres per
minute. The ULFVs also carry 1450 litres of foam agent, which is
ARFF is also occasionally tasked to perform less conventional
mixed with the water before dispersal. The 30 tonne ULFVs have
duties. Following the hail storm which battered Sydney’s eastern
a top speed of 120km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 80 km/h in
suburbs in 2000, ARFF was challenged with the task of clearing
28.5 seconds (fully laden). Custom built in New Zealand, the 6x6
the runway centreline of large hail stones with their trucks’ water
all wheel drive ULFVs carry four crew in a side-by-side seating con-
monitors to enable aircraft that were holding while the savage
figuration, consisting of a driver, a monitor operator and two fire-
storm passed to land safely.
fighters. Access compartments on the ULFVs house a large array
of rescue equipment including breathing apparatus, cutting equip-
ARFF also fully supports local NSW Fire Brigades stations with
ment and variety of hose nozzles and couplings.
domestic call outs within close proximity of the airport. Requests
for assistance are fairly rare, but in January 2004, ARFF was
Station 1’s smaller Mack Cougar DRV is powered by a tur-
tasked to Port Kembla, near Wollongong, to help extinguish a large
bocharged Mack V8 diesel engine and carries 2000 litres of
fuel oil and ethanol fire which had erupted in storage tanks there.
water including 200 litres of foam agent. It is used mainly for
responding to non-aircraft emergencies such as first aid calls, fuel
The Mills-Tui Stryker 6 ULFV carries 10,400 litres of water in a tank located in the
centre of the ULFV. The tank is identifiable here by the white coloured “2”.
spills and building alarms.
RESPONSES
ARFF responds to two types of aircraft emergency. A full emergency response would be activated if a pilot declares a Mayday or
a major accident has occurred on the airport. Air traffic controllers
from the tower or FCC crew will activate a crash alarm, audible
within both stations, and pass on as much detail about the incident available at the time. Initially, ARFF would roll out four ULFVs,
with rescue and fire-fighting support called in from the NSW Fire
Brigades, Police and Ambulance services.
8
fire professional
ARFF crews are all required to hold a current boat licence and
regularly conduct water training exercises using the rescue boats.
Nearby at Port Botany, the Ports Authority stations a fire tug vessel,
used mainly for fire protection of the port and the many cargo and
oil ships that enter into Botany Bay. The fire tug can also provide
fire suppression support to ARFF for aviation emergences on
either of the two parallel runways that extend into the bay.
TACTICS
ARFF in attendance of a China Eastern A340 after incident in November
2000 at Sydney. The A340, with 207 passengers and crew on board,
suffered a hydraulic problem with the nose gear during the landing roll,
causing it to slew off the runway.
For all emergency call outs the station’s Fire Commander, who
controls and coordinates the response, will ride in one of the
attending ULFVs.
The airport’s fire-fighters have also been on standby to provide
Based on initial details known about the incident, the Fire
support during Sydney’s bushfires.
Commander must decide if a standard tactical plan for the airport
will work, or if specific instructions need to be given to the tenders
WATER RESCUE
about their positioning when arriving at the scene.
With more than half of Sydney’s active runways surrounded by
No two incidents are the same, and although standard rescue and
water, ARFF operates a water rescue service (WRS) with two res-
fire-fighting plans do exist, these plans are designed to allow
cue boats - a twin hull Marlin Broadbill 780, powered by twin
crewmembers to know their role in an emergency response and
110kW (150hp) Mercury motors, and a single hull Stabi-Craft
any alteration to the plan is decided on and communicated by the
with a 67kW (90hp) Honda motor.
Fire Commander during the course of the emergency.
The Broadbill 780 was delivered to ARFF Station 1 in June last
ARFF’s first consideration is the control of any fire in the immedi-
year, and its twin aluminium hull allows it to undertake sea rescues
ate vicinity of the fuselage, with the focus being on the safety of
in rough swells within Botany Bay.
passengers and crew, as it’s estimated that humans will only survive an aircraft fire for three minutes. Consequently aviation fire-
Both WRS boats are fully equipped to perform search and rescue
fighting has to be performed very quickly with control of 90 per
operations and carry inflatable liferafts for surviving passengers
cent of the fire required within minutes of arriving on scene.
and crew following a water landing.
Response and extinguishment has to be immediate.
Sydney ARFF officers Michael Fenech and Shane
Campbell watch over a taxying United Airlines 747400 during a water training exercise on
board the Marlin Broadbill 780.
9
fire professional
Made from steel, ARFF regularly conduct training exercises
using this aircraft mock-up structure to simulate cabin,
wheel and engine fires. Pictured here, an ARFF crew extinguish a simulated engine fire using foam.
On approach to an aircraft fire, which may be an engine or
A380. Tenders with an aerial appliance, such as an extendable
wheel/brake fire, the Fire Commander will instruct the monitor
ladder or ‘cherry picker’ style platforms are likely to be required to
operator to target the fire with foam, reducing the chance of fire
enable ARFF crews and their equipment quick access to the upper
taking hold within the cabin area and allowing for a safer evacua-
deck.
tion of the aircraft. If the situation allows for a total extinguishment,
this will give occupants on board the best chance of survival.
In the future, the possibility of Airbus producing the longer A380-
However if a complete ‘knock out’ is not an option, the Fire
900 (a 656 seater) would mean Category 9 airports having to
Commander will continue to assess the response for the duration
meet Category 10 ARFF requirements. The 900’s fuselage length
of the incident, taking in to consideration the aircraft’s location and
is expected to nudge the 80 metre mark. A Category 10 airport,
condition, wind direction, ground slope and if an aircraft evacua-
which handles aircraft with fuselage lengths up to 89 metres and
tion is underway.
widths of eight metres, requires a minimum 32,300 litres and
three vehicles. Sydney currently satisfies the Category 10 require-
The 10,400 litre tank on board each ULFV allows for just over two
ments with its four ULFVs being able to deliver over 41,600 litres,
minutes of continuous supply of a water and foam retardant mix-
however staffing and shift numbers would be arranged to meet
ture before a refill is required. Sydney’s four ULFVs combined can
the minimum crew requirements for this category.
deliver over 41,600 litres of retardant to a major aircraft emergency before additional water supplies and pumping equipment is
needed from supporting NSW Fire Brigades crews.
If needed foam agent carried onboard the ULFVs can be mixed
Fire Commander Ken Duncan (wearing the red helmet) instructs a fire-fighter
during a simulated aircraft fire at the ARFF training complex in Sydney.
with sea water pumped in from Botany Bay.
ARFF AND THE A380
The arrival of the A380 into Sydney and other Australian airports
late next year presents ARFF with new challenges – particularly in
responding to any emergencies on the Airbus giant’s upper deck.
ARFF has set up a working group, involving representatives from
Airbus, Singapore Airport, the British Airports Association, Los
Angeles Airport and the Schipol Group to determine what level of
equipment airports will need to satisfy ARFF requirements for the
10
fire professional
An ARFF crew patrols the Qantas domestic bays
during a shift. ARFF crews work two 10-hour days
and two 14-hour nights, back to back, and have
the subsequent four days off.
NEW RECRUITS & CREW TRAINING
ANSWERING THE CALL
Careers in ARFF are very stable with staff attrition rates very low.
Attending to 4461 airport emergencies last year, Airservices
Applicants who apply for an ARFF career are not required to have
claims to be one of the world’s largest providers of airside rescue
previous fire-fighting experience before joining and are fully
and fire-fighting services and has more than 50 years of experi-
trained by ARFF.
ence.
Passing an initial interview and a fitness test, as well as having
Across the country ARFF has a fleet of 56 fire vehicles and 534
passed a security, drugs and alcohol check (for which ARFF main-
personnel, and measures its performance by its ability to provide
tains a zero tolerance), successful applicants attend a basic 10
required levels of service to given points on an airfield within a spe-
week training course in Brisbane at Airservices Australia’s ARFF
cific time frame. During 2003-04, ARFF maintained an overall
Training Centre where they earn a certificate two in fire-fighting.
operational preparedness (an average of key performance indica-
All ARFF crews are first aid trained and able to deal with HAZMAT
tors) of 99.8 per cent, with fire vehicles arriving on scene to aircraft
(Hazardous Materials) emergencies, structural fires, vehicle acci-
incidents within the required three minutes in 98.4 per cent of
dents and aviation rescues and fire-fighting.
cases.
Upon completion of the course, recruits are then sent to an ARFF
Australian ARFF airports have fortunately not seen a major com-
station on a six month probation to train for their local ratings,
mercial airline accident. However, should a full scale accident hap-
including monitor operation and ULFV driving.
pen, the highly trained men and women of ARFF work hard to be
ready to respond to the call.
During the past 12 months, Sydney’s ARFF unit has employed
seven new recruits which has seen a substantial amount of crew
of training, usually taking place in lulls in aircraft movements during the day.
As a uniformed career service, the ARFF offers staff the opportunity to progress from the base Aviation Fire Fighter level to the rank
of Chief Fire Officer. Selection for positions is based on merit and
through formal training and examination.
Sydney Airport currently satisfies the Category 10
requirements with its four ULFV’s being able to deliver
over 41,600 litres. Tender 2 is pictured here returning to
Station 1 following a training session.
11
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Col. D.
Hackworth
special
The Warrior who
Turned Peacenik
Feature
A long time ago, my brother lent me a book entitled ‘About Face’.
Wounded twice and sent back to the US with a battlefield commis-
Written by an U.S. Regular Army Colonel, I hooked into it hoping
sion, Hackworth started to notice an ever-prevalent mood swing
for a good war story. As it turned out, I ended up with a lot more
within the ranks of the Army. Great emphasis was placed on aca-
than that. Now, I don’t know if this equates as union business. But
demic skill, with Bachelor’s Degrees and Masters’ encouraged.
what I do know is that here was a man who, in the midst of the
Much to his discomfort, Hack noticed that less and less creed was
most controversial war in the history of our civilisation, stood up to
given to training. The US Army started to listen to civilian ‘whiz-
the might of the Government administration, the armed forces
kids’, who expounded on the needs of the future military. The prob-
hierarchy and the CIA to voice his views
and denounce and embarrass a lot of
people who stood ready to tear him to
lem with this was they had never seen combat,
The Spirit of a true unionist ...
and based their findings and recommendations on statistics and graphs.
pieces. Read on, and tell me if
Hack, who was a firm believer in the adage
Hackworth doesn't embody the spirit of
“the more sweat on the training field, the less
a true unionist ...
blood on the battlefield”, could see this would
David Haskell Hackworth loved the US
bid the US Army no good in the future.
Army. Lying about his age at the end of
WW2, he joined up at the age of 15
Come the Vietnam War, and Hack started his
and commenced his soldiering career
first tour of duty in 1966. He very quickly
in Yugoslavia, where he learnt his trade
realised that jungle warfare was not what the
under the steady and unrelenting gaze
US had trained its troops for, and the enemy
of hardened and ruthless war veterans.
they were fighting was largely unseen and
As ‘Hack’ himself relates, any minor
extremely formidable. He also maintained that
infraction would guarantee you an
afternoon of running around the
what he termed ‘US arrogance’ was not going
Hackworth regularly risked his life for his men.
to win battles:
parade ground holding a 9.5 pound M1 rifle over your head yelling “I’m a shithead! I’m a shithead!” until
“The war could have never been won in terms of the employment
you collapsed.
of firepower. The solution to winning the war was to cause reform
Come the Korean War, and Hack vehemently requested a posting
overseas. He was among the first volunteers for Korea and later for
Vietnam, where he perfected his skill. As a result of his fighting
ability, his bravery and concern for his men, Hack was awarded the
Silver Star before he was old enough to vote. “He understood the
atmosphere of violence,” a fellow soldier observed. “That meant
he knew how to keep his head, to think in danger’s midst. In battle
the worst thing is paralysis. He mastered his own fear and learned
how to survive. He led by example, and his men followed.”
in the government, to win the hearts and minds of the people. This
was not done. You could have used all of the firepower in the
world, all the technical ability that the U.S. had to fight the enemy,
and you’d have, maybe, won a temporary tactical respite. But we’d
have never won the war strategically unless we had the people
join our side”.
“If you were a student of warfare, as I was, you quickly realized that,
tactically, we were not going to win the war and we had to win the
people.”
13
special Feature
Hack spent 4 years in Vietnam and completed an amazing 5 tours
Within 10 weeks, the fiery young combat leader (he was now the
of duty. In an effort to help young soldiers understand the fighting
youngest Colonel in the US Army) had so transformed the 4/39
and their enemy, he wrote a pamphlet that quickly became com-
that it was defeating main force enemy units. Hack led from the
pulsory reading for newly-arrived troops. The Vietnam Primer was
front, at one point getting out on the strut of a helicopter, landing
a bible to men in the field, and described guerrilla tactics employed
on top of an enemy position and hauling to safety the point ele-
by the enemy, as well as counter-tactics to combat them.
ments of a company pinned down and facing certain death.
Others thought him crazy for the risks he would take for his troops.
In short, Hackworth was taking responsibility for the personal training of his men, something the US Army had long since failed to do.
Another infamous feature of the conflict that incensed him was
John Falcon, one of Hackworth’s helicopter pilots in Vietnam, witnessed this action.
“Hackworth called in airstrikes, artillery, naval gunfire, smoke
the ‘body count’. Hackworth again:
screens, but nothing worked,”
“By counting bodies, we would know the impact of the
Falcon remembers.
war, it’s success or failure. That became the standard
‘’During the battle I would occasionally look back and see a collage of
emotions on Hackworth’s face —
anger, frustration, grief, determination. Finally, he suggested the most
daring rescue conceivable.”
Hackworth ordered his helicopter to
land directly where the wounded
were lying. With bullets flying, the
colonel leaped off the aircraft and
measurement of success. What happened was that
body counting completely eroded the honour code of
the military, specifically among the officer corps. It
taught people to lie. The young lieutenants fresh out of the military
academies were taught to lie. The generals, who were pretty proficient liars anyway, pushed the body count. A high body count
meant great success. So, in every battle, enemy bodies were
counted several times. If there were 200 bodies, suddenly the figure became 650 and it became, to quote General Westmoreland,
‘another great American victory.’ It corrupted the officer corps and
it appalled the soldiers, who by that time were mostly draftees.
They were scurrying around the jungle counting bodies, which
was a pretty awesome and terrible thing to do.”
ran through a
wall of fire multiple times to
reach his men,
dragging each
aboard the helicopter. As the
aircraft left the
scene,
loaded,
overhe
stood on the
During his second year in Vietnam, Hack commanded a battalion
skids, clinging to a bulkhead.
made up of conscripts down in the Mekong Delta. It was a battalion with very bad leadership. It had sustained 600 casualties in
the six months before he took over. Morale was terribly low. They
called themselves the “Heartbreak Battalion.” His finest moment
(Hackworth has been recommended for the nation’s highest
medal, the Medal of Honour, for that day, but it has been held up
by what the Pentagon calls ‘administrative snags.’)
came when he applied the enemy’s tactics, taking the hopeless
Surprisingly for a career soldier, Hack demonstrated great affec-
4/39 Infantry Battalion, and turning it into the legendary
tion for the draftees. In About Face he states that they kept the mil-
Hardcore Battalion. The men of the demoralized outfit saw him at
itary honest. Without their ‘careers’ to think of, the draftees happi-
first as a crazy “lifer” out to get them killed. For a time they even put
ly blew the whistle on incompetent leaders, military atrocities and
a price on his head and waited for the first grunt to frag him.
anything else the Army or the US Government tried to cover up.
Come 1971, Hack had had enough. He was approached by the
14
special Feature
ABC and asked if he would take part in an interview dealing with
and migrated to Australia. He had met the Aussies many times
Vietnam. After much soul-searching, he agreed. After almost five
before in Vietnam, and indeed had been disciplined for saying to a
years in Vietnam Hack’s cup runneth over. So, as the Army’s
meeting of senior US officers: “The only people who know how to
youngest colonel he spoke out on national television saying, “This
fight this war are the Viet Cong and the Aussies.”
is a bad war ... it can’t be won and we need to get out.” In that interview, he also said that the North Vietnamese flag would fly over
Saigon in four years -a prediction that turned out to be far more
accurate than anything the Joint Chiefs of Staff were telling
Much to Australia’s gain, Hackworth stayed in Oz. He became a
leading spokesman for our fledgling anti-nuclear movement, and
for this work he was awarded the United Nations Medal for Peace.
President Nixon or that the President was telling the American
(In 26 years in the US Army, he was twice awarded the Army’s
people.
second highest honour for valHe was the only senior officer to
our, the Distinguished Service
sound off about the insanity of the
Cross, along with 10 Silver
war.
Stars and eight Bronze Stars.
When asked about his many
Hackworth resigned his commission,
awards, he always said he was
and returned to the US. Here he was
proudest
ostracized by the military administra-
of
his
Combat
Infantryman’s Badge, his eight
tion and the US Government. He was
Purple Hearts and the UN
constantly followed, and his apart-
Medal.)
ment was bugged and searched; it
Returning to the US years later,
was believed to be the CIA.
Hack established ‘Soldiers For
Senior military officers searched for a
The Truth’, a website that is a ral-
way to bring him down, discredit him
lying point for military reform.
or merely shut him up. Hack recalled
an incident when he was asked to
“Hack never lost his focus,” said
report to a US Army base for an inter-
Roger Charles, president of
view. He refused, saying he wasn’t
Soldiers for the Truth. “That
comfortable with the idea. The officer
focus was on the young kids
then rang back and suggested a ‘neu-
that our country sends to bleed
tral’ meeting place, such as the
and
Walter Reed Hospital. Hack agreed,
die
on
our
behalf.
Everything he did in his retirement was to try to give them a better
and rang his legal adviser to tell him. The lawyer’s response was
chance to win and to come home. That’s one hell of a legacy.”
swift, to the point and very blood-chilling: “God man, don’t go
there! They’ll give you a frontal lobotomy!”
On Wednesday 4th May 2005 Colonel David Haskell Hackworth
It was at this stage that Hackworth became very frightened. To be
frightened of the enemy was one thing, but to be frightened of
what your own side might do to you! Hack packed and left the US,
died from a form of cancer that is now extremely prevalent among
Vietnam veterans exposed to the defoliant known as Agent
Orange. He was 74 years old.
15
special
Interview
Leigh
Hubbard
Matt Morgan
Matt Morgan (editor - The Australian Firefighter) interviews new UFU National Executive
Officer Leigh Hubbard, who joined the union in April after 10 years as Secretary of the
Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) where he coordinated 40 unions and 350,000 union
members.
Photo: Burra S.A.
Editor – Welcome aboard Leigh. Let’s get some basics out of
the way.
national movement on key issues like IR changes. I was on the
ACTU Executive.
Full Name :
Leigh Darren Hubbard
Age :
47 in September
Children:
Two girls - Maeve (20) and Lilian (17)
unions together is quite a task - a bit like herding cats really.
Footy Teams:
Geelong and Melbourne Storm
Getting consensus on legislation or how to respond to a policy
Favourite Food:
Indian and South East Asian, then
What were your key responsibilities in that role?
My key responsibilities were as I’ve just outlined. Getting 40
issue or even participation in a major campaign can be quite a
challenge. We ran campaigns on everything from IR changes,
Italian/French
cuts to the public sector, James Hardie and asbestos victims to
Favourite Book:
The English Patient
manufacturing jobs. I had major involvement in policy work
Favourite Movie:
Downfall
Music:
Blues/gospel, jazz, reggae and world music
around oh&s, workers compensation, vocational education and
industry policy (especially manufacturing).
VTHC also runs an oh&s centre that provides policy advice and
trains around 1500 safety reps each year. We also run a
What was your previous role and how long were you in it?
Workcover Conciliation Service which assists about 2000
I was at the Victorian Trades Hall Council for 11 years, the last 10
injured workers at hearings during the disputes process. One of
as Secretary. Like the Trades and Labour Council in every state,
the pleasurable aspects of the job was overseeing the refurbish-
the Council coordinates the unions in the state, represents them
ment of the historic Trades Hall building which dates from 1874
on collective issues, runs joint campaigns and liaises with State
and is the oldest continually used union building in the world. In
Government on legislation and policy. Although autonomous,
all I was responsible for about 30 staff.
the VTHC is the state branch of the ACTU and works with the
17
special Interview
What was your best experience and memory in your previous
years of disharmony between various branches. There is now a
role?
general acceptance that there should be an effective national
There were three really, and all were really close together in time.
body and it will be a matter of evolution as to what the role will
In late 1997 we ran an extremely effective campaign against the
be.
then Kennett Government when they abolished the right to sue
at common law for injured workers. Within a few weeks we had
Mostly the national office will coordinate the branches, provide
two rallies of around 50,000 people in each and it culminated in
an effective forum for developing policy, sharing information and
a 16% swing and a by-election loss against the government. I
representing common views to Fire Services and government.
think it was a key factor in Kennett getting the flick in 1999.
At another level, part of my role is to lift the profile of the UFU in
Better still the new Labor Government had committed itself to
the national union movement. We are a small, but proud, union
restoring common law during the campaign and did so in May
with high membership. We haven’t punched up to our weight
2000.
within the ACTU. So our recent coordination of lobbying in
Canberra on September 14 by fire-fighters, nurses and para-
Then in April 1998 there was the MUA dispute when Patricks
medics on the IR issues was a good first step.
dismissed 1600 employees and put scabs in balaclavas on the
waterfront. The national union response and in particular the
We can also do more on policy issues like oh&s and training. We
Victorian response was magnificent. We had been involved
can also improve the profile at the international level. While there
since late January in Victoria when the NFF stevedoring compa-
is plenty of informal contact, especially with the IAFF in North
ny was installed at Webb Dock. Coordinating that dispute with
America and the FBU in the UK, there are few formal avenues for
other union leaders, culminating in the rally of over 100,000
information sharing between fire service unions. And finally
people on 6 May, just before the MUA members went back to
national office needs to improve the way we communicate to
members so both the magazine
work, was an absolute highlight.
However, in August and
September 1999 the issue of East
and web-site will be revamped in
East Timor Foreign Affairs
Minister Jose Ramos Horta
2006.
Timor erupted. There was the
lead up to the referendum and
With the Howard Government’s
after the people voted overwhelm-
industrial changes what are the
ingly for self determination the
biggest risks for our members?
pro-Indonesian militia inflicted
Well the risks are many and they
much damage and violence.
are outlined in other articles in
Again, the union movement here
AFM. It is true that firefighters
in Victoria was instrumental in
won’t be the first affected by the
mobilising support for Australian
changes – protected as we are by
and international intervention. We
high levels of union membership,
had protests and blockades at the airport, rallies of 25,000 in the
large employers and good agreements.
streets of Melbourne and the visit of the now President of East
However, to paraphrase a famous quote, “No union or group of
Timor, Xanana Gusmao. I was very proud that the union move-
workers is an island”. If all around us industrial awards are
ment assisted the East Timorese. The Timorese community,
stripped, individual contracts with lower standards can be offered
small NGO’s and even the churches didn’t have the resources we
at any time, the independent umpire has reduced powers to arbi-
had, although they had amazing activists who could teach us a
trate disputes and the penalties against unions and workers for
thing or two. So it was great that the VTHC played such a key
taking industrial action are increased, there is no doubt that these
role.
changes will flow inevitably into the fire services. At the very
least it will shift the power in bargaining in favour of the employer
18
Others would be the campaign against Pauline Hanson in 1996,
– we will have to argue to keep things we once took for granted
the James Hardie Campaign on asbestos compensation in 2004
and fight harder to oppose employer initiatives we thought could
and our manufacturing jobs campaign in 1999.
never be raised.
Let’s move on to the UFU. What is the exact title of the role and
While 8 state and territory Labor governments are in place the
what are the key responsibilities Leigh?
legislative infrastructure that Howard provides won’t be widely
My title is National Executive Officer of the UFU. We are at an
used in the public sector. But imagine when we get reactionary
early stage of rebuilding the national union, after a number of
Liberal or Coalition governments in place as we will over the next
special Interview
five years. Then the pressure will come on rostering, crewing,
appliances and a whole lot of conditions we have.
In the UFU we are at an exciting stage of trying to build a truly
national union which adds value to the work of the branches. If
So what are the worst features of the legislation?
that aim can be achieved over the next few years that will be a
The most fundamental is the further stripping of awards and the
good legacy.
fact that at least 4, and up to 16, of the current 20 allowable matters in Federal awards could be lost. Conditions like career paths,
What do we need to do as a union to represent our members
provisions around independent contractors and labour hire,
well?
industry specific holidays will be lost. Awards standards will have
As a union we need to listen and respond to the members,
to be minimum only and all awards will have to include provision
remembering that different groups of members sometimes want
for part-time work. More comprehensive state awards will be
different things so prioritising claims isn’t always easy. But the
over-ridden by these reduced federal awards (although firefight-
key to a successful union is education and involvement of dele-
ers in NSW and Queensland may be able to stay under the state
gates and members. After all, the members are the union. The
system because fire services are not corporations).
full-time and honorary elected officers of the union can’t do
everything and it is unhealthy to rely on them, especially in the
Perhaps the most frightening aspect is the promotion of individ-
current political climate where every member has to understand
ual contracts which can over-ride an award and only have to sat-
the challenges facing us and be prepared to act. So continuing
isfy five minimum conditions to be registered (an hourly rate of
to build workplace delegate structures with committed, educated
pay, annual leave, sick leave, parental leave and hours of work).
members is a key to the union maintaining and extending
These contracts can be offered at any time, including during the
achievements.
life of a collective agreement, which is not allowed at the
moment. For example, in the future new recruits to fire services
Apart from the industrial law changes, what are the key threats
or discrete departments could be offered AWA’s that are inferior
facing unions in Australia?
to both the collective agreement and the award.
Apart from apathy and failing to put resources into organising,
there are several threats. The first is the changing nature of the
We are fighting this legislation not only for ourselves but for fami-
workplace - casualisation, contracting out, privatisation - these
ly members, friends and the vulnerable in the community. For
are all having a major effect on our ability to organise workers.
example the effective scrapping of the AIRC (the Commission)
The other is the world environment, particularly the opening of
and the establishment of a “Fair Pay Commission” will produce
the economy which has had a real impact on the shape of indus-
worse results and delay minimum wage increases for around 1.6
tries like IT, finance and manufacturing and put the squeeze on
million of Australia’s poorest paid workers. That Fair Pay
workers as employers say they can’t afford to keep jobs or pay
Commission will also be responsible for award classifications.
more. But sometimes these factors are used as an excuse. In
Add to that the abolition of unfair dismissal for any worker in a
many growing industries union density has declined because we
workplace of less than 100, the abolition of pattern bargaining
haven’t worked hard enough to recruit and retain members. In
(serving the same EBA claim on many employers) and a clamp
the past the union movement faced difficult challenges and has
down on union entry to workplaces and you can see how the
come through. With hard work and some strategy I’m sure we
landscape will change dramatically in favour of employers.
can again.
That’s why we urge all members to attend meetings
during the national community day of protest on
November 15 around the country. For details see
www.actu.asn.au or www.rightsatwork.com.au
Leigh, thanks for your time today. Before we go, what do you
think every UFU member could do to help you and the union
achieve our goals?
Get involved. You don’t leave all the work to one or two people
Leigh, in many years to come, what would be the legacy you
on the fire-ground, so why do that in your union. When the
would like to be remembered for?
branch wants volunteers to help on a project or wants you to sign
As a trade unionist that I was an activist, prepared to organise
a petition or postcard, put your hand up. And don’t just whinge
and fight for the rights of working people. However, I have a view
at the poor bugger who is the shop steward, ask if you can give
that unions are an important part of the community and they
him a hand to organise a meeting or share the load. This is espe-
should be active on issues that affect our families and communi-
cially the case during this IR campaign. The UFU has a proud his-
ties as well as the narrower industrial and workplace issues. So, I
tory and high union membership. But it still needs its members
would also like to be remembered for trying to shift unions to use
to be active.
their power and voice for broader social, environmental and community issues.
19
world
News
Terror Laws
an Attack
on Dissent
On September 27th John Howard and all State and Territory leaders
unanimously agreed to new laws that will fundamentally change the way
government can deal with dissenting political opinion.
by Simon Flynn
20
world News
With the timing of John Howard’s visits to New York City and
tion. The AFP can now demand virtually any information on any
London during recent terrorist attacks seen as nothing more than
citizen under the banner of ‘national security’.
coincidence - it is these two murderous incidents that are now
being used as justification for laws that will give Howard unprece-
The most disturbing of this raft of new Orwellion laws:-
dented power to imprison his political opponents.
Preventative Detention Orders give police the ability to imprison
people on the basis of political activities for up to 14 days. For the
The truth is that Australia has only suffered one politically motivat-
first time in Australia’s history state police will be given the power
ed terrorist attack in its history - the 1978 bombing of the Hilton
to jail suspects without charge or a warrant and without the over-
Hotel in Sydney. In that incident a man was framed and impris-
sight of the courts. The states police services have long suffered
oned for over 8 years on falsified evidence only to be freed and
endemic corruption - all the way back to the Rum Corps and its
exonerated of any guilt. A Royal Commission subsequently estab-
despotic control of the colonies 7500 gallons of rum in 1793.
lished and whilst no one was found to be responsible ASIO and
Individual performance based contracts for the senior ranks of
the NSW Special Branch were the two organizations found to
state based police services has only served to further politicize the
have gained most from this tragic incident through increased
constabulary.
funding, medals and promotions.
Riding the climate of fear and insecurity his own government help
These new laws remove the foundation stone of our legal system,
create, John Howard has now locked up control of both houses of
whereby people are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty,
Parliament and the bench of the High Court. The Howard govern-
and now require that people suspected by the police must prove
ment is not only attacking our rights at work but it is attacking the
they are not guilty.
very basis upon which our political and civil rights are founded.
Without the right to freedom of speech and political dissent we
New laws have been introduced to replace the crime of ‘Sedition’
will see union leaders and activists locked up. The ALP too is high-
-with any person alleged to have incited violence against
ly likely to collapse without the funding and support of the trade
Australian interests or communicated support for Australia’s ene-
union movement.
mies facing up to seven years in goal. Journalists, peace activists,
civil rights campaigners and union leaders are all likely to fall victim
The Howard government is now putting in place legislation for a
to these new laws.
one party state.
Control Orders are to be introduced that will allow police to direct
That would all be fine if England hadn’t planted the Tolpuddle mar-
and control peoples movements for up to 12 months. Electronic
tyrs here amongst the convicts, rebels and political dissenters over
tracking devices can now be fitted to people and restrictions
200 years ago. Our unions brought us the first workers courts in
placed on their movements. ASIO will have no requirement to jus-
the world, the first eight hour day in the world and stopped con-
tify to the public why these orders have been issued.
scription in the first world war. The Australian union movement
shaped this society its democratic and civil institutions, its egalitar-
Warrants allowing ASIO to break into premises and search for doc-
ian values and its healthy disrespect for authority.
uments will be extended from 28 days to 3 months and warrants
to spy on mail and email extended from 90 days to 6 months.
No one ever gave these rights to workers in Australia they were
ASIO will be able to remove and hold indefinitely anything of inter-
fought for and taken when ordinary rank and file workers organ-
est found during these searches. Trade unions, student unions and
ised themselves and built a mass movement. Australia’s democra-
refugee rights campaigners are likely to have records removed
cy isn’t built on a European Bill of Rights or a US style First
and their operations severely disrupted.
Amendment it is founded on a belief in militant and democratic
unionism. Now with union membership below 25% of the work-
The Financing of Terrorism Act will remove the right to remain
force it is time for our movement to reach out to all the victims of
silent with long prison terms for those who don’t answer all ques-
global capitalism to educate, agitate and organise for a world
tions during interrogation. These laws -with the right to remain
where working people will never again be slaves to a handful of
silent already include the penalty of life imprisonment. A similar
corporations and their political puppets.
law in Britain has seen charities like orphanages and primary
schools in Iraq stripped of funding and children denied any educa
(Simon Flynn is a firefighter attached to Newtown Fire Brigade in
Sydney)
21
Your r
at w
Ral
VICTO
MARCH
22
rights
ork
ly
RIA
2005
23
Taking the fight for
canberra
Rally
FAIR STANDARDS
to Canberra
Over 150 firefighters, nurses, and paramedics turn out to hear Opposition Leader Kim Beasley and ACTU President Sharan Burrow
launch the joint unions’ statement on 14 September.
Kim Beasley supports our cause, as he
listens to Leigh Hubbard address the rally.
24
ACT and NSW UFU Members at the Rally
Branch Secretaries Craig Harris (NSW), Phil Harrison
(SA) and Mark Walker (QLD) with
ACTU President Sharan Burrow
canberra Rally
Health and emergency services unions took the fight over pro-
permit any behaviour whose purpose is to divert attention away
posed IR changes to Canberra on 14 September with the launch
from the parliamentary proceedings.” Luckily, (most) firies had
of a joint unions statement (see attached) at the front of Parliament
clothes under their turnout gear. But here is a humorous sugges-
House and an intensive lobbying effort. The aim was to show the
tion that the next lobbying effort at Parliament House might con-
pollies that these changes won’t just affect the low paid, manufac-
tain a lot more nurses in uniform, and that the forced removal of
turing and construction workers - ultimately they will affect all of
those uniforms might be significantly more revealing than this
us.
time round!
The UFU national office coordinated the day which saw 150
members and officials from the UFU, Nurses Federation,
the LHMU and the TWU (the last two repre-
guided. He and his Senate colleagues also
out to hear Opposition
attacked Senator Gavin Marshall (Labor,
Leader Kim Beasley and
Victoria) who had kindly allowed us to
ACTU President Sharan
Statement.
launch
NEO Leigh Hubbard and the joint unions in
question time, saying our efforts were mis-
sent ambulance workers) turn
Burrow
IR Minister Kevin Andrews also attacked UFU
use his office as a base for the day.
the
The Statement
All up it was good day for the UFU.
calls on the Howard Government
It assisted the ACTU campaign,
to rethink the legislation - now due
got us working with other
for introduction and debate in
health and emergency servic-
November.
es unions and showed the
pollies and the media that
A special thanks to the ACT and NSW
this isn’t just a fight for
branches of the union who rallied about
the rights of the vulner-
100 members, especially the 30 NSW
able or the militant. It
members who made the long bus trip down
is a fight for every-
from Sydney.
body’s rights.
Inside Parliament House delegations of nurses,
firies and ambo’s visited around 30 MP’s and
Senators, the bulk of them being government members. The highlight was an opportunity to address the
Coalition backbench Workplace Relations and
Employment Committee. UFU NEO Leigh Hubbard and ANF
Federal Secretary, Jill Iliffe led the way with valuable contributions
from delegates before about 20 government MP’s. We promised
to come back when the legislation is introduced.
The day wasn’t without controversy. At question time firefighters
and ambo’s were asked to remove turnout gear before they were
allowed entry to the gallery! The Opposition asked ‘why’ in question time and the next day the speaker gave the lame response
that “it was unacceptable behaviour for a large group of persons attending question time to wear into the gallery clothing which, by its very purpose, is intended to draw attention
to the wearer….I….welcome visitors to this place, including
firefighters…Nevertheless, it would be inappropriate to
25
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Where
are they
now?
mates &...
Memories
an interview with Paul Caica
(Former National Secretary
and S.A. State Secretary)
Secretary is a great training ground for life as a Member of
Interview by Michael Rowe (The Scope)
that exist amongst my constituents, meeting people and where
1. WELCOME PAUL, GOOD TO CATCH UP WITH YOU – WHAT
HAVE YOU MISSED MOST ABOUT NOT BEING A SECRETARY
Parliament. My role can be divided into two parts – the electorate
office and the parliamentary role. In a way I get more satisfaction
from my duties in the electorate office, dealing with the problems
possible, helping them to fix those problems, much like being a
UFU Secretary. My parliamentary role is also satisfying, but in a different way. I particularly enjoy my role as the Chair of the
Parliament Public Works Committee (PWC), a committee where
WITH THE UFU?
It’s nice to catch up with you. There are a lot of things that I miss. It
is difficult for me not to think of the Fire Service(s) when I think of
our Union. I have to a great extent, often considered the Union and
the Fire Service as one. That is, the job of a fire fighter would not be
what it is without the UFU – the conditions of employment, fire
fighter health and safety whether that be safety crewing or
advances in PPE, or recruitment and promotion. All aspects of the
role of a fire fighter and the future well-being of the Services is inex-
all government projects with more than $4m of tax payer funds
being spent are reported to the Parliament through PWC. It is a
very active and busy committee and the range of projects that
come before it is wide. One week dealing with a school, the next
week a Salt Interception Scheme the next week a sewerage works
and perhaps the next week a bridge. I enjoy this role very much
and it has taught me a lot about the workings of government and
government departments.
tricably linked to, and I think dependent upon the performance of
our Union. Most of all I miss the relationships established with and
between our Branches (despite the hiccups that occurred from
time to time) and the collective approach and commitment to
advancing the well-being and welfare of the membership. I miss
the cut and thrust of negotiating, and I miss my involvement with
our rank and file membership. I also miss Richard Warwick’s
singing.
2. WHAT ARE YOU UP TO PROFESSIONALLY NOW?
Paul and Bridgette still working together after all these years.
Well, I am still a Member of the South Australian Parliament. I was
elected as the Member for Colton in February 2002 and the next
election (there is now a set term) will be held in March 2006. The
majority of my work is orchestrated towards being re-elected.
Colton is a marginal seat and crucial to the Labor Party remaining
in Government. As a marginal seat, it has really been for me one of
constant campaigning since being elected. It is interesting in that
my role as a local member is really not that much different from my
role as an official with the UFU – except that it is serving the needs
of a larger and more diverse constituency. I think that life as a UFU
3. YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE UP FOR ELECTION IN MARCH
2006, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WILL GO?
It will be a close election, in both Colton and across the board. I
have worked hard to establish a good working relationship with
the people of my electorate. I think the government has done a
good job and that should hold us in good stead. I am confident,
despite the fact that it will be close, that I will get across the line
and that the same will apply to our government.
27
mates & ... Memories
Paul finds another way to
work the trucks.
6. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING FIRE FIGHTERS TODAY?
I think that it is a challenge we have faced for some time. The
changing and evolving role of fire fighters in this country. There are
still those fools who argue that it is simply putting the wet stuff on
the hot stuff. Of course it is a much more complex and involved job
than it has ever been, and I think will continue to become more
complex with respect to the role expected of fire fighters. But it is
a challenge that the Union, Services and fire fighters will confront
head on. Of course there will always be the challenge of preserving fire fighters conditions of employment in times (that are
inevitable) when conservative governments are returned at the
4. YOU STARTED AS A FIRIE – WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU
State level. Their aim is always to cut services, cut conditions and
MISS MOST ABOUT BEING IN THE JOB?
cut funding. Quite often the Services’ management comply with
During my time as the National Secretary the position reverted to
the riding instructions of their political masters on these occasions
a part time position (at least in title) and returning back to fire fight-
despite the fact that they (management) know what is right. It is
ing after my time as the SA Branch Secretary was refreshing and
then (as always) reliant upon the Union and its membership to
enjoyable. Most of all I miss the people I worked with, the relation-
confront the challenge and wage the battle.
ship that exits amongst fire fighters, the reliance
That time will come again.
upon each other. I miss the bullshit that is discussed as if it is gospel around the mess room
table, and I miss the social interaction. It is, and
will remain, a great job, and I was privileged to
have nearly twenty years in it. I witnessed and
was part of a modernisation of the job, but some
things remained the same – the people in it, and
it is those people that I miss most of all.
5. WHAT WAS THE FUNNIEST STORY (THAT
YOU CAN TELL) DURING YOUR TIME AS A
FIRE FIGHTER?
I think there are many. From the early days, the
“There are
still those
fools who
argue that it
is simply
putting the
wet stuff on
the hot
stuff.”
shape in the freezer. Vietnam Vet Carms sitting silently in a
crouched position on the roof of the old Headquarters station
dropping buckets of water on firies passing underneath – often
those with rank. The whole of ‘C’ shift hiding in the mess after
refusing to comply with instructions of the Superintendent to pack
up the salvage sheets – it was Christmas Day – with the whole of
the shift being placed on report. ‘C’ shift was known as the radical
I think it is an outstanding initiative that will
have a very positive affect. Leigh Hubbard is an
experienced, first class operator and our Union
is very lucky to have secured his services. I
believe that for a variety of reasons the former
national structure was in need of change. The
appointment of an Executive Officer will bring
with it a more collective and cooperate
stirring was inherent. For example, ‘filthy’ Habits looking for his
shirt - only to find it having been soaked and frozen solid and in
7. YOU HELD A NATIONAL ROLE WITH THE
UFU FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, WHAT DO
YOU THINK ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE
NEW ROLE OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
OFFICER?
approach amongst the Branches and remove some of the partisan
attitudes that have existed. That is not to say that the National
Union didn’t work well, it did and accomplished some great things
– Federal Registration – National Award, PPE standards and so on.
But I think this appointment and the new structure provides better
than ever before, the opportunity for our Union to evolve into an
even greater organisation and more importantly, an organisation
that is more responsive to the ongoing needs of its membership.
shift – ‘C’ for Communists and Christians. Peter Godwin, much to
the disgust of the officers kicking a dead rat to the feet of the duty
officer during parade when the name of fire fighter Rusinski (the
rat) was called. During a water fight on a hot summer evening during drill when I had the branch going full pelt at a fellow fire fighter
thinking it was strange that he was running toward me, turning
around seemingly enjoying getting drenched only to realise that
he was wearing my bunker coat, over trousers and helmet. There
were so many funny times.
28
Getting into practice for
Paul’s future Parlimentry career.
mates & ... Memories
8. HOW’S THE FAMILY, REMIND US OF ALL THE DETAILS?
Annabel is well, we recently enjoyed our 18th anniversary of
10. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TIME AWAY FROM WORK
marriage. James (17 years) and Simon (14 years) are both well.
Well, it is doing what I can with the family. That mostly involves the
They are good boys. Simon is still at school, Year 9 at Henley High
boys’ sport. We also try to fish, but time is tight. I have always been
School, James has recently completed a plumbing pre-voc course
a family man and it is my priority to spend as much of what is my
and is actively seeking a plumbing apprenticeship. This is where I
get a bit angry with the Prime Minister who has said in the past ‘if
you don’t like school, leave and get an apprenticeship’. It is such an
out of touch statement. Securing an apprenticeship is competitive
and I have especially learnt this through my involvement with the
CURRENTLY?
spare time with Annabel, James and Simon. Being a Member of
Parliament is a demanding job, but if your job prevents you from
doing what is most important to you, what is the use of being in
that job?
11. GOING AWAY ON HOLIDAYS SOON – WHAT’S YOUR
high schools in my electorate and James’ efforts to secure an
FAVOURITE SPOT?
apprenticeship. Both are playing football in winter (Aussie rules
I can hear Annabel laughing now. I have made a mistake (probably
that is) and cricket in summer. I try to spend as much time as I can
more than one) since being elected. In all honesty, I have not man-
with them but of course (and it is hard for me to cope with), at their
aged my time at all well, particularly when it comes to personal
age they naturally prefer to be with their mates than with their old
time. Except for a few days here and there, I have not had a holiday
man. Annabel still looks beautiful and works a couple days a week
since my election to Parliament. That is dumb, and of course as a
teaching Japanese at a school down towards Port Adelaide. Just
Union secretary I would have never have allowed for such a
as was the case when I first became the Secretary of the SA
situation amongst my membership to happen. I know one thing
Branch (and the National Union) my role as a parliamentarian ini-
for sure, that if re elected, I will ensure that there are holiday blocks
inserted in my diary over the four year period just as all workers
tially caused tension because of
can enjoy. With respect to
the changes it caused in family cir-
favourite spots I like anywhere
cumstances, but as in the past, we
where there is water, particu-
have managed it. We love each
larly areas where a fishing line
other and despite everything else
can be cast. Yorke Peninsula is
and whatever changes might
a great spot, as is the West
occur, my family remain and are
Coast of South Australia. The
my priority.
Riverland (despite the deteriorating condition of the River
9. HOW DID YOUR FOOTBALL
Murray) is also a great spot.
TEAMS GO THIS SEASON?
Unfortunately for the past
Not too bad. The Crows finished
Still the loving couple - Paul and Annabel
third. I was happy to see Sydney
win in what was a great game. Still, I would not have been upset if
West Coast won. As long as a Victorian team wasn’t in the mix
(sorry to the Victoria Branch membership). My local team
Woodville-West Torrens lost the grand final to Centrals. Our fourth
loss in a grand final in five years. I put myself through the torture
yet again and attended the final. Henley Sharks finished third this
three and a half years I have
(except when Parliament is sit-
ting) not travelled much beyond Findon Road – the eastern boundary of my electorate.
12. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, GOOD LUCK WITH
THE NEXT ELECTION, AND YOU WOULDN’T KNOCK BACK
THE EMERGENCY SERVICES PORTFOLIO IF YOU WERE
OFFERED IT WOULD YOU?
year, their first year in the first division of Amateur league. It was a
It would be frightening – I have known firies and their Union
great effort and I attend as many of these local games as I can.
intimately over many years. I am not sure that I could deliver all
There is an earthy, agricultural feel to local football and I love it. So
they wanted. Seriously though, my objective is to win my seat at
I guess all my teams did OK this year but hopefully, will do better
the next election, assist in getting Labor returned to government
next year. I particularly enjoyed the fairytale final of the NRL
and take what comes thereafter. It would of course, if it happened
between the cinderella teams. Would not have mattered to me
one day, be one of the privileges of my life to be the Firie Minister,
who got up but West’s, like my local team is an amalgamated team
however, irrespective I will always remain committed to ensuring
and success helps to mend the bridges that parochialism can
that I am the fire fighters representative and voice in Parliament
break down. Most of all though, I enjoy watching and being
and their conduit to the government. Thanks for the opportunity to
involved with James and Simons’ football. They play for Henley
and I try to always be at their matches.
catch up. I enjoyed my four years as the Editor of The Australian
Fire Fighters but I never expected to be interviewed. Thanks for
thinking of me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support
of fire fighters and their Union.
29
FNQ...
Sun, food, food,
and more food.
dreaming of...
Travel
by The Forward Scout
i
magine living in a climate that aver-
ages 25 to 33 degrees each day all year
round, and only falls about 5 to 6 degrees
each evening. It makes for great days at
the beach, or touring anywhere by foot,
shopping - clothing, jewellery, art, home-
prices.
wares, or pre-purchase tours to the Great
more expensive than major cities. Maybe
Barrier Reef, Daintree River (with crocs),
it’s a sign that many of us want that slice
Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, or the
of heaven 365 days a year?? All the way
Sky Rainforest Cableway.
from Cairns to Port Douglas there are
If you stop at the real estate agents’ shop
many signs noting “for sale” or “future
fronts you’ll stare in amazement at the
development”. The sting in the tail with
In
many
cases
they
are
car or boat - and even better nights at fabulously relaxed restaurants and eateries
from Cairns all the way through to Port
Douglas. It’s the life we all dream of ...
one of the locals
sunbathing - she's a
bit snappy though!!
even if it is only for a few weeks. Heavenly
holidays in Far North Queensland ... yes
please.
Port Douglas is no longer a small piece of
heaven - it’s bigger, but it’s still heaven.
Within minutes of a busy main street
(Macrossan St) you can find a secluded
beach, a patrolled beach, a marina, a golf
course, a bush walk with a lookout or ...
you could stay in the main street and give
your credit card a work out. Plenty of
31
dreaming of ... Travel
$35-65 with glasses of wine at $15.
Don’t worry though - this is the place that
will get you out of the doghouse (... if you
are in it?) for many months to come. Every
cent you spend will be worth it - the food
is superb, the service first class, and the
surrounds out of this world. You are dining
in a rain forest, with palms and trees so
thick you can’t see next door, and many of
these tower 60 feet above you. All of this
is only forty metres off the main street amazing. Go at night for the best atmosphere with floodlit trees, and hopefully it
will rain for you. They pull these giant clear
plastic roofs across while you continue to
dine. Words can’t do justice to this wonmany purchases is the rapidly increasing
council rates and body corporate fees.
Above: dining in the rain forest - simply superb
derful experience.
Below: first class to the reef
These can range from $5,000 to above
Naturally you’ll need to go to the Marina,
$20,000 p.a. for property near the beach.
and there are a number of dining spots.
It might be cheaper just to buy the holiday
The one you need to go to is “On the Inlet”.
each year?
It’s a small wharf right on the river, and
you will meet “George” the Groper at
There is plenty to do ... or not to do.
5.30pm everyday. You don’t have to dine,
However, there are things “you just must
just buy a drink and watch George and his
do”.
mates put on a show. After this, sit back
and watch a magnificent sunset over the
The first is a beer or wine, and maybe a
water, the mangroves and the mountains.
snack, at Soul ‘n Pepper on the river next
You’ll be so relaxed you’ll stay for dinner.
to Anzac Park. It’s straight out of the set of
The food is great - it’s so good they gener-
Gilligan’s
ally have two sittings each night.
Island.
Palm
trees
with
coconuts, and a rusty tin roof. It’s basic
beach ... and it is perfectly relaxing. A plate
When you need to think about going back
of fresh prawns, that fed two of us, was a
nice light lunch for $17.
As you wander back to the main street
to Cairns airport to return home, leave a
Below: .it's time to feed "George" the Groper ...
and for me to enjoy a xxxx
wonderful beaches along the way - Ellis
(on Sundays you’ll walk through the market in the park), you will bump into the
Court House Hotel on the corner of
Macrossan and Wharf Streets. It’s a nice
spot for a relaxing-ale, a bit of live music,
watching sport on six TV’s, or you could
pop next door for a punt at the TAB.
Either side of the hotel you’ll find restaurants a plenty - Sassi, Catalina, Salsa,
2Fish, Zeus. Prices are not always cheap,
but the food is great. One place the food is
definitely expensive, is the Nautilus
Restaurant - entrees $20-30 and mains
32
few days early and stop off at the many
dreaming of ... Travel
Beach, Palm Cove, Clifton Beach, Trinity
Beach, and Yorky’s Knob.
The Forward Scout
meets the local Firies
If you want to continue the food experience, prop at Palm Cove. There are plenty
of eateries and the prices are generally
much cheaper than Port Douglas.
Everything is situated on the road that
runs along the beach - and that means
every spot gets a water view. The only
problem I found was there were too many
buses on this road that reminded me of
my everyday life - I wanted to keep dreaming - I didn’t want reality!!
There is a little open-air plaza with four
eateries. You walk up stairs next to Belle
Property’s shop front on the main beach
road. You can get Greek, Italian, Grills, or al
a carte. Everything is cheap and it’s tasty.
There are also excellent upmarket places
like Sea Temple, Vivo, Reef House, Choc
De, Far Horizons in Palm Cove. You can’t
go wrong.
If you don’t want to stay on the beach, you
meals in a club atmosphere overlooking
can have the most relaxing time at Mango
the boat harbour and the Coral Sea. Be
Lagoon Resort and Wellness Spa. The
careful not to drop too much food off your
massages are heavenly, and it is a great
plate into the water - the fish almost jump
spot to stay with four pools - including a
out for more.
50 metre lap pool.
One place you must pop into is the boat
“FNQ ... a great place to get lost ... you
club at Yorkey’s Knob. You will enjoy great
might never come back - we didn’t.”
“FNQ ... a great place to get lost ...
you might never come back - we didn’t.”
AIRFARES: Virgin and Jetstar seem to be the cheapest, but Qantas does have good deals also.
ACCOMMODATION: Check out wotif.com - they have great last minute deals all over the world, and they can
get you amazing hire car deals (buy travel insurance to cover the excess insurance gap for hire cars - it’s cheaper). If you are game, don’t book before you go. There are plenty of cheap standby options for accommodation
- just book your airfares, a hire car and go !!!!
33
The difference
Safety
between
South Australian
Chalk and Cheese
health &
Phil Harrison
Some people say there’s not much difference between Labor and
We now spend an extra $3.5 million every year on a 50% increase
the Liberals these days.
in health and safety inspectors – that’s an extra 30 inspectors (20
general OH&S and 10 scientific and technical specialists such as
If safety at work is important to you, see if you can spot the differ-
engineers, ergonomists, occupational hygenists).
ence between our State Labor Government and the former Liberal
Government. The last full financial year of the Kerin Liberal
We have also invested $450,000 a year in a specialist unit to deal
Government was 2000-2001.
with Major Hazard Facilities – to stop tragedies like the Longford
Gas Plant disaster that killed workers in Victoria.
In addition to that, we have committed an extra $1.511 million a
Work-site visits and investigations
year to ensure the safe importation, sale, transport, storage and
2004-05
2000-01
use of ammonium nitrate in South Australia, a substance that can
Number of Worksite Visits
21,841
5,873
relatively easily be used to make a bomb.
Number of Investigations
2,170
1,027
That’s an extra $5.461m of new funding from the Labor
OH&S compliance notices issued by Inspectors
Government devoted to ensuring greater workplace and public
2004-05
2000-01
Improvement Notices
4,688
532
Prohibition Notices
899
184
safety for South Australia.
We have also massively increased the efficiency and output of the
Government Department that deals with workplace safety
(Workplace Services – being renamed as “SafeWork SA”).
In the last financial year, Workplace Services referred 100 briefs of
evidence to Crown Law for prosecution and secured 37 convic-
We have changed the law to deliver things like:
tions. In the last full financial year of the Kerin Liberal Government
more effective and efficient workplace safety services from the
there was one workplace safety prosecution.
Government; making sure that Government Departments can be
There is still a huge amount of work to be done to make sure work-
prosecuted if they break workplace safety laws;
ers go home safe to their families, however we have made huge
rights to workplace safety training for all OH&S Committee mem-
improvements. The Liberals approach to workplace safety was an
bers – not just health and safety reps;
absolute disgrace – one solitary prosecution in a year when
more options for Courts to punish companies who flout health and
WorkCover figures tell us there were 42,929 accepted workers
safety laws; an Australian first – laws to address workplace bully-
compensation claims for injuries and diseases that year – includ-
ing;
ing 23 deaths. There was one conviction. What a shocking derelic-
a total ban on new use of asbestos;
tion of duty.
tougher laws on asbestos removal; and
tougher laws on exposing workers to noise that puts their hearing
Our Labor Government has made the biggest investment in work-
at risk.
place safety in South Australian history.
If you care about safety at work, the difference between Labor and
Liberal is like chalk and ……
34
health & Safety
Your Safety ...
... Testing
Turnout Gear
Right: A Turnout Tunic undergoing extensive trials before acceptance by the UFU
Below Left: Testing resilience to decontamination
Below Right: Testing personal protective
equipment for firefighting mobility
35
100
inter
Action
Questions
1.
How many is a baker’s dozen?
2.
West Coast Eagles (AFL) first premiership year?
3.
31.
How many tosses did Ponting win in
the 2005 Ashes series?
Melbourne Storm (NRL) first premiership year?
32.
Who was the swimmer named “Madame Butterfly”?
4.
Don Bradman’s final score in test cricket?
33.
Meat Pies, Kangaroos and...?
5.
First Test Cricket player to reach 600 wickets?
34.
6.
How many pounds does a kilogram contain?
What brand of sport shoe did basketballer
Michael Jordan wear?
7.
How many kilometres to a mile?
35.
What is the surname of the brothers in the
8.
How many gallons to a barrel?
9.
How many miles to a league?
10.
How many degrees is a quarter?
11.
Year the Whitlam government
band INXS?
36. What station aired TV show
Neighbours first?
37. Who was “The King” in
Australian TV?
was sacked?
12.
Capital of Japan?
13.
Name the sunglasses with the
38. How many star signs are there?
39. Sydney Swans AFL legend
Warrick Capper wore which
initials of R.B.?
14.
number?
Primary material for
40. What NRL team has won
glass?
15.
15 premierships?
Who invented the
41. What is an Apple Mac?
light bulb?
16.
42. Who was the
What is both Royal
drummer of the Beatles
jewellery and a dental
before Ringo Starr?
tooth?
17.
43. How many members of
Where did QANTAS
the band “The Who” are
start?
18.
still alive?
What name does a jar
44. How many original mem-
of jam and an
bers of “The Rolling Stones”
around the world yatchie share?
19.
Who was the “Big Australian”?
20.
What is a catamaran?
45.
Johnny Depp’s first successful TV Series?
46.
Alaska is part of which Country?
47.
Who was the first man on the moon?
48.
Elton John’s real name?
49.
Last Australian Formula One World Champ?
50.
What musical did Marcia Hines first star in?
51.
Who directed Blazing Saddles?
52.
Stephen Spielberg’s first film?
Who starred in The African Queen Movie?
53.
Russian Royalty were called?
28.
What ocean is off WA?
54.
What gem is unique to Australia?
29.
Plant these letters? (STCUAC)
55.
Which Aussie Soccer coach was sacked in
30.
Where is Wigglesworld?
21.
Deadliest sea shell?
22.
Do tigers live in Africa?
23.
Was Russia the first nation in space?
24.
What does C.D. stand for?
25.
Who were “The Invincibles”?
26.
What was the first Hollywood Blockbuster
for Hugh Jackman?
27.
36
are still in the band?
2005?
The Australian Firefighter
inter Action
56.
Does the Australian navy have an aircraft carrier?
85.
Where is the city of Romance?
57.
What is the natural predator to
“The Great Barrier Reef”?
86.
What colour was the first Ford Car?
58. How many Star Wars
87. What is Australian Cricket’s
Movies are there?
unlucky number?
59. Who played Batman
88. What is 88 called in
in the TV Series?
Bingo?
60. Capital of New
89. What is Mrs Whitlam’s first
Zealand?
name?
61. Capital of Portugal?
90. What was the name of the
62. Cairns University was
plane that dropped the first
named after which explor-
A- Bomb on Japan?
er?
91. 20,000 Leagues under the
63. The TV show
Sea was written by?
Sea Hunt starred?
64. Who lit the 1956
Olympic Cauldron?
65.
Bifocals are?
66.
What comes out of volcanoes?
67.
Who played Gilligan in Gilligan’s Island?
68.
Which Wiggle is always asleep?
69.
Is a dolphin a fish?
70.
Who had horns on their helmets?
71.
What does seven dozen equal?
72.
What does “www” stand for on the internet?
73.
Volvo began in which country?
74.
Who captained Australia in the 1961
Tied Cricket Test?
75.
What timber is used to make cricket bats?
76.
What is the nick name of the Sydney Harbour Bridge?
77. Who started
Budget Rent-a-Car in
Australia?
92. Gladiator the movie was directed
78. Are there more men
by?
or women in Australia?
93. The internets most popular search
79. A spitfire is a?
engine is?
80. What was the name
94. Collingwood (AFL) colours are...?
of the Admiral in the
95. What is a Black Watch?
Battle of Trafalgar?
96. What is the currency of Japan?
81. What was the
97. Will Vodka freeze at zero degrees?
name of the penal
98. Beer is made from what
colony in Tasmania?
agricultural product?
82. James Morrison
99. A Hummer is a...?
plays the...?
100. Where did Captain Cook land?
83. The 2004 Olympics
Your Score
were held in?
84.
What is H2O?
(Answers on page 40)
37
SA “Wombats”
Ready for 2005
World Police and
Fire Games
sporting...
Pursuits
and it will be our turn to host this huge international event at the
following Games in March 2007.
The Wombats name was launched simultaneously with the Club’s
major fundraiser – the 2005 Hall of Flame Calendar, featuring 12
fit firefighters, eleven from the South Australian Metropolitan Fire
Service and one from Aviation Fire and Rescue. The launch was
held on Saturday 7 August, with 850 people (mostly women) in
attendance.
The calendar has been running since 1991 when the original
group of firefighters came up with a fundraising plan to finance the
flights and accommodation to the Games. But they also determined that part proceeds of their fundraising would go towards a
charity – the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Burns Unit. Since
1991, the Club has donated $75,000, which has gone towards
The SA firefighters’ World Police and Fire Games Club have
the purchase of much needed medical equipment.
launched their new club nickname – they are the South Australian
Wombats, and they are ready to invade Quebec, Canada at the
The team would not be able to attend the Games without the help
of our sponsors – Lion Apparel, MIX 102.3fm, West End, Newstyle
2005 World Police and Fire Games.
Print, SA Graphics, Adelaide 2007 WPFG, Omni, Elite
The World Police and Fire Games are open to any serving or retired
Photographics and Novatech Productions.
firefighters or police officers, and about 12,500 competitors are
expected to compete in 65 sports in the ten days of competition
To purchase the 2005 Hall of Flame Calendar ($10 plus postage),
or for further information, contact the SAMFS Reception, 08
from 26 June to 5 July 2005 in the historic Canadian city.
A team of 50 firefighters will be going to Quebec from Adelaide,
8204 3600 during business hours. For more information about
the WPFG, contact SO Bill Jamieson 0419 866 723.
is proud to support the
The Arthur Group offers :
Project Management
Strategic Analysis
Value Management
Assessor / Trainer
Education / Training
Professional Development
P O Box 3386,
Belconnen BC, ACT, 2617
Phone: 02 6259 5955
Email: info@thearthurgroup.com.au
Registered Training O rganisation - Provid er Number 88050
38
John WA
Walker
branching out...
With Tony’s retirement the Union has not only lost his years of
knowledge but also his problem solving abilities. According to the
Branch President, Iain Agnew, “Tony can be presented with a problem and after some deliberation come up with a solution that is
always in the best interests of the membership as a whole. He has
never been one to pursue what is only in the interests of one group
of members where that outcome would be detrimental to the
membership as a whole.”
UNION STALWART RETIRES
The West Australian Branch has been very fortunate to have in
Branch Secretary, Tony Drewett, announced his retirement at the
their ranks a person of Tony’s calibre who has been able to make
June Committee meeting effective July 20th 2005. Tony has
such an extraordinary contribution to our union both at the state
been a stalwart of the West Australian Branch for over twenty
level and for the national body.
years.
We wish Tony and family all the best for a long and happy retireTony’s first involvement in union matters was in 1982 when he
ment.
took part in a review of relieving arrangements. He was first elected to the Committee in July 1984. From these early beginnings
the interests of members of our union.
ELECTION FOR TONY’S
REPLACEMENT
Over the next twenty years Tony has held every position on the
The Australian Industrial Relations Registrar has been requested
union committee. In 1987 he was elected Assistant Secretary,
by the WA Branch to conduct an election for the vacant Secretary
1995 elected Branch President and in 2001 elected Secretary.
position. Although the Branch Committee of Management has
Tony has thrown body and soul into every aspect of representing
the power under the UFUA rules to appoint a replacement for the
Tony has been part of the negotiating teams for some of the
remainder of term (approximately 7 months) a decision was made
union’s major landmark achievements;
to go to an election to let the members decide the best candidate
1987 wage case
for the job.
1990 Safety crewing state wide
1992/94 Work value wage case resulting in an 11% wages
The Election process has started with the nominations closing on
the 1st September and the ballot if required opening on the 22nd
increase.
of September and closing on the 13th October. Until the election
1994 WA Federal Award
is concluded the Branch Committee of Management has autho-
1996 Full staffing of all major country Fire Stations
rised Branch Industrial Officer, John Walker, to Act as Secretary.
1992 involved in the establishment of our nation union
All four Enterprise Bargaining agreements in the Public Sector.
Tony has also made his mark in the national body of our union over
many years on the National Committee of Management and
STOP PRESS: Dave Bowers was elected as the
W.A. Branch Secretary, and will begin work in
late October 2005
National Executive.
39
branching out... WA
RENEWAL OF FIRE STATIONS
UFU OF WA WEB SITE
The Western Australian Fire service is undertaking an unprece-
The newly refurbished Branch Web site has proven to be popular
dented building program to replace or rebuild Fire Stations in both
with members accessing the new Bulletin Board program. The
the Perth metropolitan area and in some country centres. The
Bulleting Board provides a means of allowing members to com-
work includes
municate and exchange views on any topic with other members
or to start new topics for others to comment.
New career fire station at Hope Valley to replace a previously volunteer fire district.
The idea for an online communication between members was
New station at Murdoch to replace and relocate the O’Connor Fire
raised at a Branch Delegates Forum. After investigation by our
Station.
Web Master, Senior Firefighter Matt Watson, the Branch pur-
New station at Belmont to replace existing Belmont Fire Station
chased a new web site that was capable of providing new features
New station at Midland to replace existing Midland Fire Station.
that were not available on our existing web page.
New station at Duncraig to replace and relocate Balcatta Fire
The result is very pleasing with more and more members signing
Station.
up for registration to the members’ only section. It is hoped we will
New station at Kalgoorlie to replace existing Fire Station.
have every member logged on with full access to the information
Refurbishment of existing Albany Fire Station.
about all aspects of the workings of the Branch, including correspondence, minutes of meetings and decisions and policies of the
On the drawing board are the replacement of existing stations at
Branches Committee of Management.
Maddington, Perth and Bassendean.
ANSWERS (100 QUESTIONS)
1.13 2. 1992 3. 1999 4. A Duck 5. Shane Warne 6. 2.2 7. 1.6 8. 31.5 9. 3 10. 90 degrees 11. 1977 12. Tokyo 13. Ray Bann 14. Sand 15. Edison 16. Crown
17. Longreach 18. Cottee 19. B.H.P. 20. Twin Hull Boat 21. Cone Shell 22. No 23. Yes 24. Compact Disc 25. 1948 Australian Cricket Team 26. Swordfish
27. Bogart & Hepburn 28. Indian 29. Cactus 30. Dreamworld (QLD) 31. One 32. Susie O’Neill 33. Holden Cars 34. Nike 35. Fariss 36. Channel 7
37. Graham Kennedy 38. 12 39. 39 40. St George 41. Computer 42. Peter Best 43. Two 44. Three 45. 21 Jump Street 46. USA 47. Armstrong 48. Reginald
Dwight 49. Jones 50. Jesus Christ Superstar 51. Mel Brookes 52. Duel 53. Czars 54. Opal 55. Farina 56. None 57. Crown of Thorns Starfish 58. Six
59. Adam West 60. Wellington 61. Lisbon 62. James Cook 63. Lloyd Bridges 64. Ron Clarke 65. Eye Glasses 66. Lava 67. Bob Denver 68. “Wake up” Jeff
69. Mammal 70. Vikings 71. 84 72. World Wide Web 73. Sweden 74. Richie Benaud 75. Willow 76. The Coathanger 77. Bob Ansett 78. Women 79. A Plane
80. Nelsen 81. Port Arthur 82. The Trumpet 83. Athens 84. Water 85. Paris 86. Black T-Model 87. 87 88. Two Fat Ladies 89. Margaret 90. Elona Grey
91. Jules Verne 92. Ridley Scott 93. Google 94. Black & White 95. Fishing Boat 96. Yen 97. No 98. Hops 99. An Off-road vehicle 100. Botany Bay
40
Phil
SA
Harrison
branching out...
So what does the Union want to achieve? There needs to be analysis of the current risks and coverage responsibilities of the SAMFS
and beyond into what are currently CFS districts but clearly worthy
of 24/7 coverage or day coverage. The standards of fire cover
issue needs to be addressed and that has to occur through the SA
Fire and Emergency Services Commission. We are all aware of the
exponential growth experienced in the Adelaide metropolitan
area and peri-urban districts over the last twenty years but with no
congruent expansion or increase in resources (physical, capital,
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
UPWARD AND ONWARD!
THE UFU VISION FOR SAMFS!
human and financial) for the MFS.
The Union will campaign and lobby for a political solution to a political problem. These activities revolve around driving risk assessments through SAFECOM to review the boundaries and at the
With the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement behind us and the
same time raising the resources issue through the government
inception of SAFECOM achieved, the union has some clear air to
and seeking a Legislative Council Select Committee to investigate
concentrate on key issues that require political and industrial clout.
staffing and funding issues for the MFS.
A recent example of this was the union’s ability to influence the
quick passage of enabling legislation through the State Parliament
The agenda that the union would like to see flow from these activ-
that effectively extracts the SAMFS Super Fund from the over-reg-
ities initially involves day-working crews in places such as Mt.
ulated Commonwealth Superannuation Regime designed to
Gambier and in other districts where response times are unaccept-
crush boutique funds like ours so the funds end up with big busi-
able due to volunteer labour not being able to deliver the services
ness financial corporations. This exemption will allow the fund to
because of their own work and personal commitments during
save money on compliance costs but adhere to them in spirit and
business hours. Another issue that is at the forefront of the union’s
focus on looking after member’s benefits.
leadership thinking is specialization within the MFS given the complexities that face the modern professional firefighter.
A major issue for the MFS is resources, particularly human
resources. With an ever burgeoning metropolitan area fuelled by
There will be opportunities for members to have input into and be
urban sprawl and inner-suburban infill development, there has
a part of consultative processes on these and many other initia-
never been more responsibility than there currently is on the
tives that will pursued as a part of the union’s agenda to drive inter-
SAMFS and its workforce to protect the community and its assets.
nal and external reforms to the SAMFS. Remember the union is
you and the leadership group will do just that… provide leadership
There exists in the minds of many bureaucrats and politicians a
on where the membership wants to go!
school of thought that does not sit easily with what the Union is
Footnote:
advocating for because regardless of the level of protection and
In addition, the respective leadership groups of the Union and the
professionalism the community expects and rightly deserves, the
Corporation have agreed to pursue matters of mutual interest that
cost factor will always be raised as prohibitive. Not only does the
benefit the members/employees and the fire service overall. The
volunteer labour aspect come into play here but also the politics
first of these initiatives is the proposal to introduce a wellness pro-
that exists in the ranks of our communities and with some of our
gram incorporating health and fitness objectives subsequent to
glib politicians also.
the assessment of a pilot program and the health and fitness
requirements determined from the findings of the pilot program.
41
The National Executive met in Canberra on 13 September and
Executive heard from Opposition IR
made good progress toward establishing a comprehensive work
Spokesperson Stephen Smith and
program for the union in 2006. After some rocky years every
ACTU President Sharan Burrow
branch is now committed to building a more effective national
about the proposed industrial rela-
union to represent us on common issues.
tions laws.
We also heard from Peter Jennings,
national
Executive
One of the first items on the agenda was the pleasant task of
EO of the union movement’s own
resolving that recently retired WA Secretary, Tony Drewett, be
international aid agency APHEDA:
recommended for national life membership at the National
Union Aid Abroad. If you give to international charities make sure
Committee meeting in Sydney in December. Tony was WA presi-
it is to APHEDA where you support labour movement and com-
dent for more than 10 years and then Secretary for 4 until his
munity development, not just band-aids (although APHEDA has
retirement in late July. Congratulations go to Tony for his contri-
also run a very successful Tsunami appeal). APHEDA has a work-
bution to the WA branch and the building of a national firefight-
place and individual giving program and can be contacted on
ers union, a project he always supported. On 14 October Dave
www.apheda.com.au.
Bowers was elected to the vacant Secretary position in the
branch. Congratulations also to Dave.
Then the Executive approved a draft plan for national office
(established in May) which includes:
•
Continuing to find a more permanent home for the
national office which is now in temporary offices in the
CBD.
•
Proceeding as quickly as possible to revamp the magazine
(by July 06) and web-site (by April 06). Submissions have
been requested and proposals are coming in as we go to
print.
•
Continuing the IR campaign fight (with Executive agreeing
to the $5.50 per member levy requested by the ACTU for
2006 and 2007) and additional campaigns to be
suggested by branches at April 2006 National Executive.
•
Establishment of a national bargaining framework/
strategy for the private sector and work on materials/ for
auxiliary/retained members
•
•
•
National office assistance with branch delegate training
and an annual industrial officers forum
Continued work on OH&S policy and standards
National
Executive
begins
the work of
building
the
National
Union
Building international links, especially with firefighter
unions in NZ, USA and the UK with investigation of a
Finally, Executive considered the issue of now deported US
Pacific Rim firefighters union conference in the second half
peace activist Scott Parkin, who was arbitrarily detained by
of 2006.
Immigration in early September on the advice of ASIO that he
was a threat to national security. This issue received significant
The Executive adopted a draft work plan and this will go to
media attention when it turned out that Mr Parkin’s main ‘crime’
NCOM in December. NCOM is larger than Executive (each
was to have spoken out against giant US corporation, Haliburton,
branch and the President), with around 25 official delegates and
which has strong links to senior Bush administration leaders like
an expected 20 observers/proxies. Executive agreed to NCOM
Dick Cheney and has profited handsomely from contracts in Iraq.
proceeding on 6-8 December at the MUA offices at 365 Sussex
Is this how our security services should be spending their time
St in Sydney.
was the main question asked by the Executive, when our members struggle to cope with new CBR and other roles with few
additional resources.
43
short
Story
by Ian Hills
A Call To Arms
an observation
one, giving the Japanese that which they were short of to make
armaments and shells, but, returned the compliment in Malaya,
earning Menzies the title bestowed on him by the unions...! “PIGIRON BOB”.
Australia is run by unions! How many times have you read or heard
that thrown up? Is it really that obvious that unions are the only
ones ‘running’ the country? How about corporations, both local
Whichever way you look at it Australians have a lot to be thankful
for our union movement which battles to keep its message up
front.
and overseas, and people like Bush and Blair? After all, we can’t be
blamed for ALL the stuff ups, surely. Unions are not always right ,
The conservatives have done a terrible wrong to attack trade
but they have a better batting score than those mixed up in corpo-
unions, and their members as though they were some kind of
ration failures, shonky deals that see investors funds lost, huge pay
insidious underground wart hogs, good for nothing save digging
outs to keepers of funds without so much as a slapped hand.
holes good people fall into.
Clearly, unions do not rule this country, if they did, the country
One wonders how conservatives would feel if unions could spend
would be in better shape.
the money they have colouring newspaper stories to readers
reminding them of the failed enterprises they invested in believing
Union leaders are in the long run accountable to their members,
Corporation leaders! Well, you know what I am going to say.
as they did that Santa Clause WAS not a big man with a bag of
goodies marked HIH or GET RICH INSURANCE, The trouble is, we
Without a voice in the country - speaking now of daily city newspa-
haven’t the money only the gut feeling that some day in the future
pers - how oh, how, do unions get a fair go? Unions are as much
there will be one too many of these corporate crashes which may
part of a democratic system as Parliament.
set off a domino theory they forwarned would happen in Vietnam.
Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini, all had one thing in common. To attain
An old saying of Lincoln comes to mind... “You can fool some of the
power their first move was to outlaw the trade unions of their
people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time!” (Well
country.
said Abe)
Why is it after what has been won by unions in this country conser-
I hope I’m around when someone rises to ask a question of our
vatives cannot be mature enough to give credit where credit is
slippery Prime Minister and asks in a decent tone. “Mr Prime
due?
Minister, beside being an expert in telling porky pies, how do you,
Believe it or not, Australian unions have a record second to none.
explain that this country can spend ‘Twenty BILLION on a war in
Iraq and can not afford a free medical service for the people of this
And Why not: Australia was first with the a Commonwealth
country?... NO, no. I’m not finished... Thank you. Also, how can this
Industrial and Arbitration Court together with each State having a
country not afford decent new helicopters, and submarines, and
similar court. First to win a basic federal award for all workers in the
tanks instead of buying United States second hand stuff?
famous ‘Harvester Award’ Judgment. First with and eight hour
day. With the top three with the 40 hour a week, compensation to
and from work and any injury or death whilst on the job. First with
the Promotion Appeals Board. First with its protest about sending
These are the things the opposition should be hounding porky pie
over and a strong trade union movement could do it, in the
absence offer strong political opposition, (in my opinion) but with
the press in their hands the conservatives would probably con-
troops to World War I and II and Vietnam.
vince Australia that the union movement is being disloyal and
Protested against the sale of ‘pig iron’ from Whyala, South
should be disbarred, and their leaders beheaded.
Australia, just prior to WWII but the Menzies government won that
44

Col. D. Hackworth - United Firefighters Union Australia

Transcription

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