There was once a time when Australian's were considered people of their word.  A handshake was a deal that you would see through to the end.

Globally Australians used to be seen as people who would "muck in", and who wouldn't throw the words "that's outside of my job description" at someone in need of a hand.

Things have changed.

Politics is politics, but naively many of us hoped/thought that politics would play second to sense, and preservation as Australia burned.  That didn't happen.

Was there ever a time when a politician put sense before ambition?

We all know what's going on with the fires, it's impossible to not see it; but the background handshakes and total dismissal of the unprecedented destruction is mind bendingly idiotic.

It's simple! Contracts can be cancelled!

WATER:

Keep Australia's water for Australia!

• Allow suicidal farmers a chance to continue with producing food and valuable exports.
• Allow our wildlife and habitats a chance to recover by leaving the water where it is most needed. HERE.

KANGAROO CULLING:

Belgium has cancelled orders of kangaroo meat, and many other countries are following; likely based on the global outrage at Australia's idiotic stance on climate, culling, water, coal and every other stupidly non-sensical policy that successive governments have put into place for profit.

Dan Andrews, the Victorian Premier announced that commercial culling of kangaroos would resume; which is all about profit over sense.

• Mr Andrews, do you have any evidence as to the actual number of kangaroos in Victoria?  It is highly unlikely.
• How is it that you create the quotas without facts?

DELWP policies continue unchanged and conflict of interest is clear

Manfred Zabinskas, a recent recipient of an Order of Australia medal, and committed animal rescuer is perpetually blocked by DELWP and joins tens of thousands of Australian's, if not millions, in being disgusted by the DELWP policies, and similar departments in other states.

In a recent post on Facebook he confirmed that:

"There is still no coordinated response to allow the most qualified, experienced and dedicated animal rescuers and carers to assist.

We still don’t have access to most, if any, fire grounds.

The rules imposed by DELWP remain a source of confusion and frustration. DELWP is not interested in working with wildlife groups."

He went on to ask:

"where are the animals that could be treated and saved? And where are the joeys of the ones that couldn’t?

The wildlife officers that are shooting animals are not carers, they are not experienced and qualified to assess burn injuries, they are not experts.

They are, however, the officers that issue cull permits and that facilitate the harvesting of kangaroos for pet food."

** Clearly there is a HUGE conflict when one department is in charge of issuing culling permits that provide kangaroo meat for sale and export, and that same department is also in charge of the welfare of those animals. 

In fact, by all accounts received to date, it is the same officers in charge of issuing licences to carers aiding injured wildlife, that are signing off on permits to kill the animals.  Does that make sense to you?

** Isn't it time that an independent advocate for animals is established? 

For this to happen legislation MUST change, and it must change now!

IT CAN and MUST BE DONE! 

**Join us by signing and sharing the petition here: http://chng.it/bkhp4qGL

**Image attached with permission from Five Freedoms Animal Rescue - Note: Kangaroo was rescued from the Plenty Gorge Fires and sedated due to burned feet