Let’s state some facts as my concern is our youth and younger Australian’s who cannot get jobs as there is none out there to get. I believe youth unemployment in regional/country regions in Australia would probably be 4-5 times the national average.

The days where apprenticeships was the normal and the young who did not do well at school could get semi or unskilled work of some sort but these jobs are not in industry now.

Some industries go to employment fire firms and they get overseas workers in to do a lot of these jobs thus stopping young Australian’s getting a job.

The political party that I receive pamphlets from stating they will stop the vast amount of overseas working coming to Australia and stop our young getting a job will get my vote. I will admit there may be a need for some overseas workers to come here but not the number that does come here. I think on 457 Visas are something like that.

I doubt I will not receive such a pamphlet as I believe the only jobs our politicians and want to be politicians are their own jobs and possible jobs as an MP.

Let’s tackle the real unemployment and be real about this and not glossy pamphlets of which have no substance.

The imminent Federal election gives the Bendigo electorate’s CFA volunteers and supporters the means, motive and opportunity to hand Labor, both state and federal, a considerable blow in light of the State Andrew’s government caving in to the power seeking demands of the bully boy UFU.

The seat of Bendigo is held by Federal Labor by about 2500 votes, which means that if just 1300 votes transferred from Labor to Coalition (Labor lose 1300, Coalition gain the 1300) the seat goes to the Government and, as it is a marginal, ‘gettable’ seat, the Government would likely carry the day nationwide.

Mr. Turnbull has said his government would do something about the CFA/UFU/Volunteer situation in Victoria.

While the current UFU-controlled attack on volunteers is a state matter, Canberra has some legislative powers. Importantly the loss federally would reflect badly on the Andrew’s government and keep the affair fresh for the next State election. News reports have it that the UFU officials have engaged in intriguing behaviour, an example of which is the very interesting and extremely creative arrangements whereby a new union employee’s private legal bills of $127,000 were met almost from day one of his employment. Do the voters of Bendigo’s volunteer-serviced areas want that sort of thing affecting their community fire service?

Politicians of every colour understand well that it is all about, and only about, votes, Sure 431 fire  trucks in Spring Street or 3000 volunteers on State parliament steps raises awareness but the loss of a seat hits home really hard, especially if that loss prevents winning the total election.

We CFA volunteers have a golden and rare opportunity here to part repair our organisation’s future.