Victorians suffer under mass pollution events every year - smoke from government planned burns and logging coupe burns.

Use of medication and medical services surge. Especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory or cardiac ailments are affected. In Australia 3,000 people die a year from fine particle pollution.

The choking smoke also has multi-million dollar impact on rural industries such as tourism and grape growing as well as on the small industries where people work outdoors. It’s unrealistic to advise people to lock themselves indoors during the weeks of burning.  

There is an increasing body of science and research which questions burning large areas of native vegetation as an effective means of keeping us safe from bushfires. Implementing more enlightened and progressive solutions which do not impact the health of thousands of people are essential.

In 2015, there needs to be a review of alternatives for ensuring more fire-safe communities.  A thorough reassessment is needed which examines:

·      the effectiveness of the government’s current burning regime.

·      Alternative options to keep communities safe.

·      Revised minimum levels of PM 2.5 in accordance with latest international health data.

·      Wide-ranging regional air quality monitoring and effective, real-time reporting to the public.