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June 21st, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell says a mass walkout by firefighters is one of the most irresponsible actions taken by a union in NSW history.
Firefighters in Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast voted on Thursday to walk off the job from 1pm to 6pm (AEST) to protest the government’s overhaul of the workers’ compensation scheme.
Responding to an opposition call to suspend question time and meet with striking firefighters, Mr O’Farrell said the union had missed its chance.
“The Fire Brigade Employees’ Union lost their opportunity to meet with me when they took a decision this morning to go on strike,” he said.
“That is one of the most irresponsible actions I’ve ever heard of from a public sector union in the history of this state,” an angry Mr O’Farrell told question time.
“As we sit, for the next five hours, people across Sydney, the Illawarra and the Hunter are without fire services.
“The Fire Brigade Employees’ Union could have gone on strike and leave a skeleton crew but they rejected that offer that would have provided protection for communities across Sydney the Illawarra and the Hunter.
His attack came as a passer-by told Macquarie Radio he had rescued a woman and a baby from a burning house in Sydney’s south.
Mr O’Farrell said: “If you think I’m angry, you’re right”.
“The facts are police have their own statutory WorkCover scheme called the Death and Disability Scheme.
“We’re making the tough but necessary decisions to ensure that workers who may be injured at work do get the support they deserve because the scheme will be financially sustainable.”
Mr O’Farrell has argued reform of WorkCover is urgent, with the scheme’s deficit blowing out to more than $4 billion.
The WorkCover reforms are being debated by the state’s upper house on Thursday, with the government locked in negotiations with crossbench MPs over amendments to better protect firefighters and others.
Christian Democrats MP Fred Nile has announced he had struck a deal with the government to retain journey to work claims, which would be scrapped under the bill.
However, Emergency Services Minister Mike Gallacher said he would not confirm what crossbench amendments the government would support.
“I’m not going to be going through which ones we are supporting and which ones we are not,” Mr Gallacher said earlier.
Firefighters sprayed the roof of NSW parliament house with a fire hose for almost five minutes after passing a motion for possibly more strike action against the WorkCover bill.
Hundreds of firefighters marched down Macquarie Street with almost 70 fire trucks behind them.
Fire truck sirens sounded as protesters packed almost the entire stretch of the street and chanted “throw this law out”.
During question time in the upper house, Mr Gallacher said the firefighters’ strike precluded them from any right to take part in the negotiation process.
Greens MP David Shoebridge had asked the minister when he would meet with firefighters to address their concerns.
“Debate about aspects of any piece of legislation … is an important part of the democratic process,” Mr Gallacher said.
“But when you put community safety at risk, you do away with your right to sit at that table at that time.
“While those negotiations are under way and have not even been finalised, to find that the community has been put at risk is completely and totally unacceptable.”
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