Money to Burn - Politics in the Pub

"Money to Burn", a Politics in the Pub hosted by Blue Mountains Unions & Community at the Family Hotel from 3pm on Saturday 18th March will explore the NSW Coalition government's response to the 2019 - 2020 Black Summer megafires.

Many Australians are still trying to rebuild their lives after fires and floods in recent years, further complicated by COVID. It takes government support to both mitigate the potential impact of these disasters and to help communities recover afterwards.

In the mountains we've seen an explosive increase in plant growth - fuel - and are expecting a dry winter, creating a dangerous risk in the upcoming fire season. This is further exacerbated by lengthening fire seasons caused by climate change.

How well prepared are we for future fire seasons?  And what was the effect when the Blue Mountains and other non Coalition electorates missed out on grants from the state government's Bushfire Local Economic Recovery funds?

MC: Ann-Maree McEwan

Speakers are:
Kim de Govrik, an Organiser for the Public Service Association with remote fire fighting experience in his former job with National Parks,

Mike Holland, lawyer since 1979 and a law lecturer who retired from legal practice and academia in 2016. Mike is a BMUC member and commenter on issues of government integrity and corruption on Rights, Rorts and Rants, Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM.

Mark Greenhill OAM, a Blue Mountains City councillor for 20 years, 10 of which he has served as Mayor, brings a Council perspective. He was Mayor during both the 2013 fires when 210 local houses and other buildings were destroyed, and during the Black Summer fires, when 2,448 homes, including 90 in the Blue Mountains, were destroyed across NSW.

The speakers will be followed by a Q&A from the audience.

Media and other enquiries: D Smith 0408 238 586

Authorised by D Smith, Secretary, Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc, 52-52a Great Western Hwy, Mount Victoria, 2786