NEVILLE BROWN: It has been pointed out, quite accurately, that bushfires are a feature of the Australian landscape. What is not accurate, is that this has been used as an argument that climate change does not influence bushfires.

This is akin to using the argument that my great uncle Fred was a heavy smoker, who lived to the age of 95, and never got lung cancer, therefore smoking does not cause lung cancer. Yes, one of the recent NSW fires was started by Defence activities. I have seen defence activities start fires in virtual desert.

Climate change does not start fires, but certainly increases the RISK that fires will start through changes in fuel loads, rainfall and wind patterns. In some places climate change will decrease the risk that fires will start. Not so in the Blue Mountains and adjacent areas of NSW. Increased fuel loads do not start fires, and indeed many are deliberately lit. What the changed, and possibly increased fuel loads achieves, is to increase the likelihood and intensity of a highly destructive bushfire. Further to that, climate change affects rainfall patterns, heat patterns and wind patterns and intensity – all of which influence the behaviour of fires.

It is irrelevant as to whether climate change is caused by human activity or part of a natural cycle. What we need to be able to do is change and adapt our practices with the inevitable new environment that climate change brings upon us. This means recognising that, in some areas, fires will be far more catastrophic, and that managing both the fires and the fuel load requires some drastic changes in practices, including recognising the increased likelihood of intense wildfires. While the government refuses to recognise the realities of climate change it is doubtful that Defence will take appropriate action and spend money on appropriate resources to manage fires which occur or begin on Defence land. In the ‘95 Blue Mountains fires I saw Defence personnel attacking fires with 30 metre flames using rake hoes and beaters, because that was all they had. I presume little has changed.

ROGER FRINSDORF: I am astounded at the government decision to extend tram lines. I was relieved when the tram lines and Trolley Buses were removed in the 60s and we no longer had reports of more pedestrian deaths as passengers alighted from trams.

Now with traffic with huge increases in activity, we are reviving them. We have a great system of O-Bahn buses with their flexibility and reliability which carry huge amounts of traffic and don’t have ugly overhead wires and visual pollution.

I can also not understand why heavy metal trams with huge energy consumptions and which totally disable lines when one breaks down are even being considered. Government should listen to its own advisers (eg Derek Scrafton) and abandon the idea before Adelaide traffic is further crippled.

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