This week Country Fire Authority volunteer firefighters were cut loose by the Andrews government in a cynical exercise to appease the ambitions of the union-controlled former MFB that has morphed into a very powerful Victorian Fire Services.
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Taken into the VFS fold have been full-time CFA staff. There is palpable anger and disappointment in the ranks of CFA volunteers who believe they have been shafted - a process that began not long after Andrews became premier.
He shadowboxed with the union in a Clayton's attempt to look authoritative, however, the writing was on the wall. In a Labor party beholding to union muscle, he knew he was never going to prevail. Now, comes the task of building a new CFA under the influence of Fire Services and the powerful United Firefighters Union.
Thousands of CFA members have quit since the writing hit the wall and should more go, the gutting could be disastrous. The only thing that will save the CFA is the professionalism and comradery established over decades. It is hard to believe that those who have unstintingly given so much to volunteer firefighting will chuck in the towel. And, do not doubt that the premier has taken that into account.
Yes, my money is on the wonderful men and women who volunteer to the CFA. The very same people that will step up to the plate again when fire, flood or some other emergency comes over the horizon.
PRICE
You can be sure that every bit of chicken meat you consume has come to your table from a wide group of highly dedicated contract growers. They take in the young chickens from hatcheries and husband them through to the day they leave their sheds to be processed.
VFF President David Jochinke has said that although chicken was the most popular protein choice for Australian consumers, the popularity on dinner tables was not benefiting contract growers. These contract growers are caught in no man's land, as processors and supermarkets slug it out over margins. The demand for chicken is continuing to rise, however, the price being returned to growers is not.
In recent years, the retail price of beef, lamb and to a lesser extent pork has risen, whilst the price of chicken has fallen. It is possible to buy chicken breast at around $10 a kilo and tough chicken does not exist.