What you said: ‘Just give volunteer firefighters the money’
As the Premier and PM engage in a war of words over paying volunteer firefighters, couriermail.com.au readers have responded in droves, largely urging both governments to stop playing silly politics. HAVE YOUR SAY
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AS Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk engage in a war of words over a plan to pay volunteer firefighters, couriermail.com.au readers have been divided in their reaction.
Mr Morrison claims he was ‘blindsided’ by the Queensland Government’s refusal to take up an offer to pay volunteer firefighters up to $6000 tax free to offset their losses from giving up work to battle the blazes.
He claims the Palaszczuk Government refused to sign on because it is not a national scheme.
However Ms Palaszczuk fired back that she had not refused the offer and said Queensland firefighters deserved the same level of federal government support as other volunteer firefighters across the country.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE READER COMMENTS
Courier Mail readers have responded in droves, here’s a selection of what they said:
Don Quay: It doesn’t matter who pays. At the end of the day, the money comes from us. Just pay the volunteers so they can keep food on the table for their families and they can continue to fight the fires.
Bruce: As a paid firefighter I work side-by-side with our volunteers and without them some of these fires would still be raging with huge losses to houses and the farming communities already doing it tough with the drought.
This has been a horrific fire season which is far from over and our hard working volunteers should be compensated.
All sides of government need to work together in the best interest of the people that voted them in and stop playing party politics.
For once, start governing for the future and not the next election!
William: If there is going to be ‘tax payer’ money going to volunteer firefighters then they should repay the wages their employers have continued to pay while they were fighting fires instead of working.
It would be much better if the Federal government spent this public money on buying new equipment and updating facilities for all volunteer ‘emergency’ services, including surf life savers so they could more readily attract more recruits instead having to spend so much time and effort panning the begging bowl of fund raising.
Value Our Volunteers!
John Challen: Morrison should have made it clear in the first place instead of saying (NSW) he should have said all volunteers firefighters throughout Australia would be paid but he meant what he said in the first place when he said only (NSW) but has corrected himself because of the backlash.
Mark my words this (PM) is no good and is dividing our nation with his leadership
Dulcie Hawkins: Every firefighter should get this money. They are putting their lives and health at risk every time they go to a fire.
What you intend to give them is nothing for the nightmares they have seen and what it has done to their health. Give the money to every state !!!!
Daniel Bull: Australia is burning. Fires don’t follow state lines nor do the firefighters.
They have been at it for months across the country helping out where ever was needed.
A National disaster requires a National Response. These men and women deserve respect.
Joan Burke: This should be beyond party politics. All volunteers should get a payment to ease the financial burden they incur while fire fighting wherever they are.
Next time there will be no-one prepared to manage these disasters.
Madam Premier stop trying to score political points and gratefully accept the funds for your constituents.
Stuart: Take the money Anna this is a short-term fix from a grateful nation.
As a follow up I hope the Feds and states get their heads together and come up with a fully funded and enacted scheme to cover not just firies but SES volunteers and other organisations called out for state and national emergencies.
Perhaps something similar to the way that Reserve soldiers are paid
Paul B: Mark Ryan, pull your bloody head in. The parameters of this plan were made clear from the start and it is open to all states.
Premier, stop taking orders from factions and do your job. Accept this offer and look after your state’s volunteers.
Carol: Annastacia.. get your act together & stop looking for attention, PM .. well done.”
Matthew: She wants it done right and said she has not refused the money
John P: Playing silly politics while fire fighters suffer. Shame on you Premier.
John: NSW asked and received and is being offered to QLD without asking!
Bing 4814: Another case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing so the quick answer is to cut off your nose to spite your face?
No doubt there will be 197 public servants on overtime working on a reversal of this decision with hastily put together excuse blaming someone else.
What do you think? Tell us in the comments section below
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