Bushfires, Handshakes and Cameras

 

(Our Prime Minister was away holidaying in Hawaii during the bushfires. On returning he went and talked to people, offering handshakes and condolences while being followed around by a camera crew. It did not go down well as shown in the videos.)

 

 

Your town is on fire

Your home has burnt down

Along with their cameras

Politicians come round

 

Feeling all sorry

Shaking hands (cameras snap)

Watch on the news folks

I mean it (no crap)

 

If one's truly sorry

Cameras no need

Only reason for snapping

Their ego to feed?

 

If fighting a fire

Or just lost my home

I wouldn't be wanting

Distractions to come

 

Be it the Queen

Prime Minister or such

Platitudes I won't want

Won't want so much

 

What I'd be wanting

Is come don your gear

Help me to fight this

This fire we all fear

 

 

Firefighters are using

Their own private car

Fuel and their chainsaws

To fight this fire war

 

Not enough units

Are there on the ground

Come on there government

Provide. Duty bound

 

PostScript

 

Our own state Premier went to devastated Kangaroo Island and talked to the people. He didn't tell TV stations where he'd be all the time and they weren't following him with cameras. That is true leadership.

 

The Prime Minister has since released $2 million for bushfire relief. But this really is too late. The problem is not climate change, nor the bushfire but government mismanagement in lack of preparation. No burning off allowed, lack of converting idle obsolete planes to water bombers, lack of providing enough firefighting units, lack of developing fire retardant sprays. Water will just not work against oil-laden eucalyptus leaves.

 

Don Matthews January 2020