Thursday Breakfast

RADIOTHON IS ALMOST HERE! Please consider donating to the Breakfast Teams' crowdraiser, where we're doing our bit to contribute towards the station's goal of $275,000 to stay on air for another year. Don't forget to nominate your favourite brekky crew, i.e. Thursday ;) when you donate. Want to make a donation another way? Head to 3cr.org.au/donate for more options. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. Sound on for solidarity with 3CR Breakfast, Monday to Saturday mornings on 855AM!  Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// Maia, founding director of Yung Prodigy Org, came on the show to talk about the importance of authentic spaces centring care, truth and breaking cycles of targeted systemic dependency for young people with experiences of parental incarceration. Maia works in social justice spaces more broadly through anti-racism, advocacy and assisting community organising efforts. She has lived experience of parental incarceration for over 10 years and other forms of contact with the justice system, driving her work to curate a better aligned social ecosystem through Yung Prodigy. Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize took us through the launch of public hearings into the People's Commission into the Housing Crisis, which began today in Sydney. The People's Commission, convened by Everybody's Home, a national cross-sectoral campaign aiming to fix Australia's housing crisis, will hear from community members and frontline workers about lived experiences of housing insecurity.// Son of a Palestinian refugee, co-founder of Australians For Palestine, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network and broadcaster on 3CR’s Palestine Remembered show Nasser Mashni spoke with us about the university student encampments around so-called Australia calling for disclosure of and divestment from all institutions and companies supporting and/or profiting from the genocide of Palestinians. The conversation also touched on the newly-launched Anti-Palestine Racism in Schools Register.// Liz Downes, campaigner with Melbourne Rainforest Action Group (MRAG), joined us to discuss MRAG’s recently-released report documenting Australian mining company Hancock Prospecting's concerning activities in Ecuador since 2017. The report compiles seven years worth of front-line reporting on Hancock's 100%-owned subsidiary Hanrine, which has attracted scrutiny for alleged civil rights violations and judicial system interference during its explorations for copper and gold in eleven mining concessions in northwestern Ecuador.//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// This morning we are joined by Marcelle Mogg, CEO of Mental Health Victoria, the states peak body for mental health…specialising in policy, advocacy, training and research. Today Marcelle will expand on concerns, shared across the sector, regarding the Victorian Government's failure to allocate funding to key supports recommended by Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System in 2021.// James of 3CR's Out Of The Blue, speaks with US writer and journalist Sabrina Imbler about their new book that that fuses science and memoir to compare the lives of sea creatures to their own. In this excerpt, James uncovers how queer the oceans really are. Sabrina's book is How Far The Light Reaches, published in Australia as My Life In Sea Creatures. James begins the conversation by asking Sabrina about her connection to the ocean.//  Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, takes us through VALS' response to this year's federal budget. While the budget included funding for a suite of family violence-related reforms, the wellbeing of Aboriginal women and children were shamefully neglected despite a dire need for culturally safe legal support and representation. Nerita also provides insight into the relationship between a lack of consideration for Aboriginal women and families at the federal and state level and the ongoing coronial inquest into the death in custody of proud and much loved Yamatji, Noongar, Wongi and Pitjantjatjara woman Heather Calgaret.// Kate aka Perno is a queer, disabled activist who joins us today to speak about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) during ME/CFS Awareness Week (12 -19 May). We will discuss international and evidence based guidelines and how australia has lagged in this area, how to reconnect with who you are while living with ME/CFS, and how we can learn more. Kate has also worked as a former nurse, a peer worker in drug harm reduction, been a fierce advocate for dancefloor safety through Cool Room and Safety Mates.// Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management in the School of Busines & Creative Industries, University of the Sunshine Coast, speaks with us about the federal Labor government's budget allocation for Commonwealth Prac Payments, intended to support students with mandatory placement requirements across the fields of teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work. Though this addition to the budget will provide some relief for students expected to undertake otherwise unpaid placements, advocates and professional bodies have raised concerns that the payments fall short of a liveable income and fail to assist students across a broad range of degrees with placement requirements.//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// First up today we will hear an excerpt from a conversation between Tina McPhee, Philip Jacka and Phillip Jenkins for the series Our Voices Unlocked. Our Voices Unlocked features guests with lived experience of incarceration and a rotating series of hosts from the Justice Reform Initiative. The following conversation unpacks mutual aid, how this might look for formerly incarcerated people who collectivise, and how meeting our own survival needs can transform people's lives. If you'd like to hear more about the work that Justice Reform Initiative do, you can head to www.justicereforminitiative.org.au.// Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh is Palestinian environmental scientist and author. He is the founder of the Palestine Museum of Natural History(PMNH), as well as the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS), founded in partnership with his wife Jessie Chang in 2014. Professor Qumsiyeh has written several books including Popular Resistance in Palestine, and today he joins us to speak about ecocide, resistance and links between Palestine and so-called Australia. You can attend Proffessor Qumsiyeh's talk "From Nakba to Genocide, A History of Human & Environmental Injustice" on Monday 13 May, 6pm at Costa Hall 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong VIC 3220. This event is presented by Free Palestine Geelong, NTEU4P Naarm/Contingent Group and the Deakin NTEU Palestine Solidarity Group. Register here.//  Friends of the Earth Australia's Offshore Fossil Gas Campaigner Jeff Waters joins us to discuss serious concerns about plans by fossil fuel industry heavyweight Esso's plans to construct a multi-storey toxic waste dump in the middle of a uniquely biodiverse wetlands area at Corner Inlet on Victoria's Gippsland Coast. Esso intends to dump multiple decommissioned "topsides" from oil and gas platforms at the site, which will release a multitude of hazardous materials at the site.// Nick Chesterfield, human rights, civil resistance and environmental justice journalist and member of MEAA for Palestine, joins us to provide updates and critical analysis of domestic and international mainstream media's coverage of israel's ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. This conversation happens in the wake of the zionist entity's decision to shut down Al Jazeera offices in occupied Palestine prior to its lethal escalation of aerial bombardment in preparation for a military ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza. It also follows this week's galling announcement of the New York Times as the Pulitzer prize winner for international reporting in 2024 "for its wide-ranging and revelatory coverage of Hamas’ lethal attack in southern Israel on October 7, Israel’s intelligence failures and the Israeli military’s sweeping, deadly response in Gaza.//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// First up today we are joined by Scott Drummond, Head of Policy and Practice at VAADA - the peak body representing publicly-funded AOD services in Victoria. In the following interview, we will be discussing in detail the rejection of a Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) in Melbourne's CBD, as well as the newly announced $95 Million AOD 'Statewide Action Plan', and what this means for the future of AOD treatment services.// James McKenzie of 3CR's In Ya Face speaking with Just Equal's Rodney Croome last month about political moves from the Coalition and the Albanese Government over LGBTIQA+ students in religious schools, and a federal religious discrimination bill. You can hear the full conversation between James and Rodney here, and catch In Ya Face every Friday from 4-5PM on 3CR.//  Native Title Rockets writer, director and producer and campaign coordinator Rochelle (Rocky) Humphrey joins us today to speak about the campaign led by Senior Kokatha Elder Aunty Suzanne Coleman Haseldine to defend Kokatha Country from Southern Launch's harmful rocket testing activities at the Koonibba Test Range. This week, Southern Launch plans to test rockets over Yellabinna Reginal Reserve and Yumburra Conservation Park, proceeding without thorough consultation with First Nations or appropriate Environmental Impact Statements and raising widespread concern about the impacts on sacred cultural sites and Mallee bushland. Donate to the West Mallee Protection campaign here, and follow along on Instagram for more information about the upcoming Rocket Wreckers fundraising rave and other events.// In our final segment today, we are going to hear an excerpt from a conversation with Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji and French writer and performer Laniyuk. Thursday Breakky co-host and Women on the Line presenter Priya spoke to Laniyuk in February this year about the ongoing campaign to return Lee Point to Larrakia Care, as well as the history of the Australian and US defence forces' militarised occupation of Larrakia Country. You’ll also hear from several Larrakia women - Jamilah Mills, Arbei Talbot, Hayley Mcadam, Aunty Aly Mills, and Arbei Adjrun - who have lent their voices and stories to the fight, using audiovisual storytelling as a medium to convey the significance of Larrakia people’s relationship with Country as a foundation for community and cultural strength, and to ensure Larrakia futures. To hear the full interview, go to www.3cr.org.au/womenontheline. And if you're living on or around Larrakia Country, we encourage you help protect sacred land and to get down to Lee Point today!//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// Khoi Nguyen is the Community Engagement and Legal Education Officer at Q+Law, a specialist LGBTIQA+ peer-led legal service operating in Victoria in partnership with Fitzroy Legal and Queerspace. Q+Law provides a free state-wide access to legal assistance over the phone, online or in person for anyone who identifies as part of LGBTIQA+ communities. Today Khoi joined us to speak about an interactive workshop happening this Saturday, where queer folks can learn about their rights and obligations when interacting with police at protests.// We hear an excerpt from 3CR's Radioactive Show where Crunch spoke with Ray Acheson, who's a writer, activist, director of Reaching Critical Will and a steering member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Ray discussed the strength of First Nations organising against all things nuclear, police repression, organising against cop cities, mutual aid and solidarity. You can listen to the full interview that aired on Saturday 13th of April, and catch the Radioactive Show on 3CR Saturdays 10-10:30AM.// Deena is a Masters of Public Health student and member of the grassroots coalition Unimelb for Palestine. Today, Deena spoke to us about the Gaza Solidarity Encampment starting today, Thursday 25th of April at 10AM. The encampment is the latest organising effort by Unimelb for Palestine, again calling on the university to cut all ties with weapons manufacturers. Drawing on inspiration from student protests at Columbia University in the US, the action states ''Disclose, Divest, We Will Not Stop, We Will Not Rest!''// Professor Ghillar, Michael Anderson, Convenor of the Sovereign Union, last surviving member of the original Aboriginal Tent Embassy's founding four, and Head of State of the Euahlayi Peoples Republic joins us to discuss the importance of commemorating the Frontier Wars on this date of colonial military remembrance. The March on ANZAC, which has been held on April 25th in Canberra for over a decade now, highlights the vital resistance of Aboriginal people who lost their lives in the Frontier Wars fighting against colonial invasion.//Bill Abrahams is a primary school teacher and member of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine VIC. Today Bill discussed the coalition's recent resource Teaching for Palestine: Challenging Anzac Day, australia's historical and ongoing repression of Palestinians, how official remembrance obscures the realities of war and promotes imperialism and militarisation, and the role of teachers and school staff in dismantling these myths.//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// We played a speech given by Declan Furber-Gillick, Eastern Arrernte man and member of the Black Peoples Union and Unionists for Palestine, at the April 15th rally at the Victorian Parliament steps launching the campaign to Get Elbit Out of Victoria. The campaign aims to end the state government’s contracts with israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems as part of the global solidarity movement fighting for a free Palestine.// Content note: this interview contains discussion of massacres and systemic harm towards First Nations people. For support, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can call 13 YARN on 13 92 76 or Yarning Safe'n'Strong on 1800 959 563. Listeners can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.  We heard part two of a conversation with Yoorrook Justice Commisioner Travis Lovett who joined Leila last week to share updates from the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s land justice hearings. In this part of the discussion, Commissioner Lovett contextualises on-Country evidence given at the March 21st ceremonial hearings within histories of Victorian First Nations aquaculture, science and lore, long-standing strategies of resistance, and the ongoing impacts of colonisation. Listen back to part 1 here. Make a submission to the Justice Commission here.// El Gibbs, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Disability Advocacy Network Australia, spoke with us about last month's introduction of legislation aiming to amend the operation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in response to last year's NDIS review report. The legislation, put forward by Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten, risks further undermining access to vital NDIS-funded supports for people with a disability in Australia.// Dr Stephen Townsend, Research Fellow at the University of Queensland’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, joins us to talk about the management of concussion in elite Australian sporting codes, focusing on the AFL and AFLW. Despite the progressive introduction of concussion management protocols at both elite and community levels, serious concerns remain about how to safeguard athletes' health in an inherently risky game. Stephen is an historian who seeks to reveal the hidden past of sports concussion in Australia and internationally. You can find him on Twitter(X) @historycrab and at The Conversation.// Songs//For My Tittas - Barkaa//Indigenous Land - DRMNGNOW//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// Sheree Lowe, Executive Director of the Balit Durn Durn Centre at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), joined us to discuss the Victorian government's failure to act on the urgent need for youth justice system reform scaling back the encroachment of the criminal legal system into the lives of young Aboriginal people. Late last month Attorney General Jaclyn Symes announced a backflip by the government on reverse onus bail reforms, and the concerning introduction of an electronic monitoring system to track children on bail in Victoria. Sheree Lowe is a Djab Wurrung and Gunditjmara woman with a strong connection to South West Victoria, and has lived most her life on Wadawurrung Country in Ballarat. She has been advocating within the Aboriginal Community in Victoria for over 20 years, and previously worked as a management consultant at PWC on projects related to organisational transformation through an Aboriginal lens and cultural safety program design.// Dr Rebekah Hoffman, General Practitioner at Kirrawee Family Medical Practice in Sydney and NSW/ACT chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), spoke with us about the latest Drug Checking Service pilot running out of Kings Cross' Medically Supervised Injecting Centre. This pilot builds on the life-saving history of drug checking service provision at fixed sites and festival pill testing in Australia, demonstrated in the ACT and Queensland. Dr Hoffman discussed how drug checking service provision will work based at a medically supervised injecting centre, and what the pilot seeks to achieve.// Content note: this interview contains discussion of massacres and systemic harm towards First Nations people. For support, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can call 13 YARN on 13 92 76 or Yarning Safe'n'Strong on 1800 959 563. Listeners can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. The Allan government recently issued a widely criticised response to the 45 recommendations from the Yoorrook for Justice report, documenting the findings of the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s inquiry into child protection and the criminal justice system in Victoria. This response follows the government’s announcement of concerning proposed amendments to Victoria’s bail laws, including trials for digital monitoring of minors on bail. We listen to part one of a conversation with Yoorrook Justice Commissioner Travis Lovett who joined Leila to discuss these recent developments and provide the latest updates on this year’s Yoorrook hearings investigating land injustice, which began with on-Country evidence last month.//James Godfrey, spokesperson for Free Gaza Australia, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, spoke with us about the Coalition's plans to set sail in mid-April to carry 5500 tons of humanitarian aid and hundreds of international human rights observers to Gaza. The Coalition, made up of international civilian groups fighting for freedom and human rights, will challenge the long-standing israeli siege on the Gaza Strip as israel's genocidal onslaught continues into its sixth month. James is a PhD student in the Faculty of Business, Government and Law at University of Canberra. For more than 35 years, he has been active in many campaigning organisations fighting for social justice, locally and internationally, including the Non-Stop Picket of the South African Embassy in London (1986-1989). In recent years, he has focused on justice for the Palestinian people and is a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which physically challenges the illegal israeli blockade of Gaza.//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// We replay a conversation from Hong Kongology where host Katy spoke with Nazanin of Feminista Melbourne about women's rights and activism in Iran. Hong Kongology airs every Thursday on 3CR from 6-7PM.// We listen back to a conversation Inez had with AJ from Melbourne Activist Legal Support in October 2023, which covered points of concern witnessed by legal observers and attendees at the Free Palestine Rally on the 15th of October 2023. This interview also included some tips on how to keep yourself safer at events and actions, an important listen in an era of escalating heightened police surveillance and violence against autonomous activists.// Techno Park resident Lara Week joined us with updates about the campaign to save the homes of residents of Techno Park Drive in Williamstown, who were ordered to leave their homes last year after a decision by Hobsons Bay Council to enforce industrial zoning laws. Lara spoke about the upcoming march to Hobsons Bay Council this Tuesday the 9th of April to stop the mass eviction of families, pensioners and other vulnerable people from their homes at Techno Park.// Joannie from racial justice organisation Democracy in Colour spoke with us about The Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024, which seeks to grant the Minister for Immigration unprecedented new powers, including imposing a travel ban by preventing visa applications from deemed ‘removal concern countries.’ If passed into law, the legislation will confront people fleeing persecution, torture and death with a perilous choice: return to a place where they may be harmed or killed, or be detained in prison for refusing to comply with removal. It would also allow the Minister, and future governments, the discriminatory power to prohibit visa applications from entire national populations. Join the snap rally called by Tamil Refugee Council tomorrow, Friday the 5th of April at Flinders Street Steps, protesting the Bill. Follow Democracy in Colour on Instagram for details on how to demand politicians take a stand against this injustice, and to make a submission to the Parliamentary inquiry into the Bill (12th April deadline).// Simona Castricum joins us to speak about her new consultancy practice Design 4 Trans and Gender Diverse, which aims to centre trans and gender diverse placemaking and belonging in spatial design. Challenging the cisheteropatriarchal status quo of built environments, Design 4 Trans and Gender Diverse will use research-led approaches to empower queer and trans communities to actively shape public and civic spaces according to their unique needs and aspirations. Simona is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, developing transfeminist methodologies in architectural design, history, and theory.//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// We replay Spike’s conversation from November last year with Iain MacIntyre from the Commons Social Change Library. The Commons Social Change Library is a service that documents the collective wisdom of people who have engaged in social change struggles and campaigns in so-called Australia and the world, and is committed to making that information free and accessible to support the fight against social injustice. Today, we played part one of Spike’s interview with Iain, where they discussed a definition of social change and free and accessible information. They also discussed why documenting struggles helps us achieve social change, and the first steps you can take in a social justice campaign. Listen to part 2 here and part 3 here.// Yesterday, Priya caught up with RMIT NTEU Branch Committee member Liam Ward on the picket to hear about the strike action running this week from Monday 25-Thursday 28 March in the face of management's ongoing delays in negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement. RMIT's previous EBA agreement expired over 1000 days ago! We were also joined by rank and file RMIT NTEU member Tami to contextualise this industrial action in relation to worker solidarity with Palestine as Israel escalates its genocidal campaign of bombing and starvation in Gaza. Note: Priya is also an RMIT employee and NTEU member, and has been on strike with colleagues this week - donate to our strike fund here. Your support makes a big difference, especially for precariously employed casual workers at RMIT.// Content note: discussion of racism and torture. Support is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14, or for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Listeners on 13 YARN (13 92 76).Human rights activist and lawyer Veronica Koman spoke with Priya about the systemic dehumanisation of West Papuans by the Indonesian state and military, given the recent circulation of several horrific images and video of the torture of Mr Warinus Murib and several other young West Papuans. By maintaining ambiguity about the legal status of its military occupation of West Papuan territory, the Indonesian state continues to evade and stymie international scrutiny of its violent colonial occupation, while framing all West Papuans subjected to brutality at the hands of soldiers as potential resistance fighters. For the latest news and music from West Papua, make sure to tune into 3CR’s Voice of West Papua show every Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:30PM.// Content note: discussion of genocide and state violence. Support is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can call 13 YARN (13 92 76), and queer listeners can call QLife on 1800 184 52.We listen back to an interview from 30 November 2023 with independent queer researcher Dr Shoshana Rosenberg, who joined us to talk about disability and trans solidarity with Palestine in the face of Israel's ongoing violent occupation, exploring the connections between disability justice, trans freedom and liberation for Palestine. Shoshana speaks about genocide as a mass disabling event and what it means for disabled folks to engage in solidarity actions across colonial borders and from stolen land in so-called Australia.//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// Nathalie Farah of Disrupt Wars joined us live from the community picket that's been running weekly on Thursday and Friday mornings outside Heat Treatment Australia in Campbellfield. The picket has been established and maintained into its seventh week by members of the local Hume community in support of Palestine, who are protesting against HTA's role in heat-treating vital components required for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter given their use by Israel in the genocide of Palestinians. Hume community members have committed to continued action outside HTA until it ends its contracts with weapons manufacturers profiteering off war and genocide.// Dr Sue Lewis, Acting President of the Victorian Forest Alliance, spoke with us about the recent announcement of the impending end of Vic Forests, which is set to wind up in mid-2024 after years of grassroots activism, official inquiries, legal battles and Parliamentary debate about the widespread harm that the entity has caused to Victoria's native forests. With the end of Vic Forests on the near horizon, we discussed the implications of its closure and what comes next for statewide native forest management. Respond to Kinglake Friends of the Forest’s urgent call to action against Forest Fire Management Victoria’s planned burns by sending an email (details below) or using the template here.// In the spirit of World Social Work Day, which falls on 20 March, we replayed an interview from June 2023 featuring Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis talking about the importance of investing in authentic youth voices, youth participation in mental health sectors, and advocacy. Angelica Ojinnaka- Psillakis is a youth development advocate, researcher, and speaker. She served as the 2022 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, and is involved in a number of projects and organisations.// Member of Whittlesea for Palestine Logan Balavijendran chats with us about the snap action on Saturday 23 March outside the office of Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles. The action has been prompted by Australia’s decision to cancel the visas of Palestinians escaping genocide,some of which have occurred mid air, leaving several Palestinians stranded with no where to go. Australian families have paid thousands of dollars to bring their loved ones to safety, only to be left scared and worried about where their loved ones will go now. Logan resides in Whittlesea with his Palestinian partner and sons. He has a career spanning education and IT, and is committed to community-building to hold leaders accountable.// Ashleigh Buckett, Principal Solicitor at the National Justice Project, spoke with us about the coronial inquest into the 2016 death of Faysal Ishak Ahmed, a young Sudanese refugee, while he was detained on Manus Island in Australian immigration detention. The inquest, which ran across Monday and Tuesday this week, examined Faysal's access to medical treatment over several months prior to his death, and assessed the circumstances of his delayed medical evacuation to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, where he passed away. With the United Nations Subcommittee on the prevention of torture making the significant decision to suspend its visit to Australia in late 2022, citing obstructions to its work and a lack of co-operation, the inquest into Mr Ishak Ahmed's death may provide a rare window into the draconian operations of Australia's immigration detention regime.// The image used for this episode was taken by photographer Matt Hrkac. Go support his brilliant independent photojournalism here.// --- Kinglake Friends of the Forest Urgent Call to Action: Stop Planned Burns! We need your help to prevent an imminent and terribly ill-conceived planned burn that will impact greater gliders near Kinglake.We've been surveying for endangered greater gliders and hollow-bearing trees in a beautiful, varied patch of forest in Mt Robertson Rd, Kinglake. In one evening, 13 gliders were detected. Numerous habitat trees with good hollows suggest that many more live here, as well as providing crucial habitat for all sorts of hollow-dependent species. In addition, many habitat trees with fire scarring near their base from 2009 (Black Saturday) were recorded. These scarred trees become more liable to collapse with each subsequent fire. Forest Fire Management Vic has just announced they are going to burn this very patch of forest within the next few days.Here are just some of the reasons that burn HR-MUR-TLG-0008 is a bad idea.We are appalled to think of the impact that this unnecessary fire will have on the resident gliders, other wildlife and flora and on the older trees that survived the last fire because of:the immediate effects of the fire and smokeloss of food supply for gliders as a result of canopy scorchcollapse of den treesthe increase in fire risk in years to come because of the pulse of shrubs that will grow after the burnWe need to listen to the research that tells us that forests need to be protected from fire until they reach maturity when they are least flammable – estimated to be about 4 years from now in Kinglake.We can suppress fire using rapid detection technology available now. Thermal and heat sensing cameras can pick up fires kilometers away if installed in towers at optimum sight distance locations. We need to ensure we have trained remote area firefighters.What can you do?We (and the gliders) would love you to ring or write to any or all of the following, citing burn HR-MUR-TLG-0008.If you ring you'll want to keep it pretty short. You'll probably just speak to someone from admin so make sure you ask that they pass on your message.If you write, you could just copy and paste points 1-3, if you don't want to write your own. Maybe change the wording a bit if you can.The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Environment    tel: 03 862 43101, email:  [email protected] Goldstraw, Senior Forest & Fire Management Officer – Fuel Management– Murrindindi District tel: 0439 130 146 [email protected] Hardman  Chief Fire Officer | Lead Executive, Forest and Fire Operations Division, DEECA  tel: 0419 563 413   [email protected] Hon Jacinta Allan  Premier of Victoria tel:0396515000  [email protected]