The PSA would like to express our support to all our members affected by the recent bushfires, in particular all NPWS staff that have been, and continue to be, directly assisting with the firefighting effort.
As you may have noticed, last Tuesday morning many members woke up to the news that the Deputy Premier of the NSW Government, John Barilaro, had attempted to blame the intensity of the fires on NPWS not conducting enough Hazard Reduction Burns.
The PSA immediately responded, finding it particularly insulting that Mr Barilaro would seek to blame NPWS workers, who were currently out there risking their lives to protect the people and property of the state. It is this Government, who in spite of warnings from our members, embarked on a major restructure which resulted in 778 jobs deleted, altered, downgraded or relocated across multiple classifications, and who have also been in charge while Ranger numbers have been slashed by one third since 2011.
Our quick response resulted in national media coverage, across television, radio and newspapers, not allowing Mr Barilaro and others within his Government to blame NPWS for the intensity of the current bushfires.
Encouragingly the Environment Minister, Matt Kean, defended NPWS by stating that he was not going to have people use the bushfires to push an anti-National Park agenda.
The PSA will also not allow this Government to stir up anti-National Park sentiment, and will continue to fight loudly for a better resourced NPWS, across all classifications, whether they be Rangers, Field Officers, Area Managers, Administrative support or Project Officers.
Not a member? Join today to fight for a stronger NPWS at www.psa.asn.au.