Subject:  DROUGHT 2002: NSW AND OTHER AREAS. AN OFFER OF HELP. Date:  Thu, 22 Aug 2002 21:54:15 +1200 From:  John Porter <twm@twm.co.nz> To:  Mal Peters <petersm@nswfarmers.org.au> Dear Mr Peters,

Attached are copies of articles taken off the Net which alerted me to the serious drought situation in NSW and other areas.
In response to the above, I am offering my weather modification service and experience should you and your organization feel that it could resolve the crisis that your members are presently experiencing.

Information regarding my background and experience is provided on the TWM web site, at http://twm.co.nz/ 
[...]
Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you in the near future.

Regards

John Porter
WM Consultant

Subject:  IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Help offered re NSW drought and fires. Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 21:17:26 +1300 From: John Porter <twm@twm.co.nz> To: "Robert John CARR, MP." <bob.carr@www.nsw.gov.au> ATTN: PM Bob Carr

It may be of interest to you to know that I emailed the NSW Farmers' Association President, Mal Peters, on Thursday 22 August 2002, and again a few days later. Both messages (shown below) were ignored by Mr. Peters as you will see. I am sure that you can draw your own conclusions about the implications and consequences of his act of omission.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Subject:  Drought
Date:  Fri, 29 Nov 2002 13:07:38 +1100
From:  Bob Carr <bob.carr@www.nsw.gov.au>
To:  John Porter <twm@twm.co.nz>
AA02/46540 - CABSEC

Dear Mr Porter

The Premier has received your recent email concerning the services your company offers.
As the matters you have raised primarily concern the administrations of the Minister for Agriculture, and Minister for Corrective Services, the Hon RS Amery, MP, and the Attorney General, Minister for  the Environment, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, the Hon RJ Debus, MP, the Premier has arranged to bring your approach to the Ministers' attention.

You may be sure that your comments will receive close consideration.

Yours sincerely

Subject:  URGENT: Re: Drought (& bushfires)
Date:  Fri, 06 Dec 2002 10:58:02 +1300
From:  John Porter <twm@twm.co.nz>
To:   Bob Carr <bob.carr@www.nsw.gov.au>
CC: " Hon. Richard Amery" <mountdruitt@parliament.nsw.gov.au>,
        " Hon. R. J. Debus" <adebus@parliament.nsw.gov.au>

Dear Mr Carr,

Thank you for your reply of 29 November.
The latest media reports suggest that the massive human and technological resources being employed are having little effect on the fires and that the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
As a gesture of goodwill, I am offering my services WITHOUT PAYMENT to help end the crisis before further destruction and loss of life is incurred. I am sure that you and your colleagues would welcome a speedy end to the tragic disaster that is evolving. 
[...]
When the service is successfully concluded, I would welcome a letter of commendation from the NSW government in recognition of my contribution.
Please advise.

Sincere regards,

Subject:  Postal Address
Date:  Wed, 18 Dec 2002 10:42:48 +1100
From:  Nichole Ingram <Nichole.Ingram@bushfire.nsw.gov.au>
To:  "'twm@twm.co.nz'" <twm@twm.co.nz>

Mr Porter 

In reference to your email to the Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Bob Debus MP (6 December 2002) in order that a reply be sent to you could you please provide me with your postal address.

Kind regards 

Subject:  Drought
Date:   Fri, 03 Jan 2003 11:34:49 +1100
From:  Bob Carr <bob.carr@www.nsw.gov.au>
To:  John Porter <twm@twm.co.nz>
AA02/48953 - CABSEC

Dear Mr Porter

The Premier has received a copy of your further email concerning your offer of assistance with the bushfires in New South Wales.

As the matters you have raised primarily concern the administrations of the Minister for Agriculture, and Minister for Corrective Services, the Hon RS Amery, MP, and the Attorney General, Minister for  the Environment, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, the Hon RJ Debus, MP, it is appropriate that you have already acquainted the Ministers with your concerns.

In the circumstances, Mr Carr has taken the opportunity to request his colleagues to carefully consider your letter.

Yours sincerely

Subject: Re: Drought
Date:  Mon, 06 Jan 2003 10:30:07 +1300
From:  John Porter <twm@twm.co.nz>
To:  Bob Carr <bob.carr@www.nsw.gov.au>
CC:   " Hon. R. J. Debus" <adebus@parliament.nsw.gov.au>,
         " Hon. Richard Amery" <mountdruitt@parliament.nsw.gov.au>

Dear Mr Carr,

Further to your reply of 03 January.

Regarding my offer to end the New South Wales bushfires and particularly the threat to Sydney in early December last year. Usually I intervene in emergency situations after receiving an invitation from the appropriate authorities.

News updates however indicated that the fire danger had become extremely critical and was advancing so quickly that an immediate response was perceived to be necessary. Fortunately for everyone the action that was taken was successful and an unprecedented disaster was averted.

I appreciate your decision to give serious consideration to my offer concerning drought mitigation and, if necessary, future fire suppression activities. Any action taken to progress cooperation in those areas of mutual concern will receive my unqualified support.

I look forward to productive discussions with you and your colleagues.

Sincere regards

Subject: Re ACT bushfires: 18-19 January 2003 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 13:35:49 +1300 From:  John Porter <twm@twm.co.nz> To:  "Hon. R. J. Debus" <adebus@parliament.nsw.gov.au> CC:  "Robert John CARR, MP." <bob.carr@www.nsw.gov.au>

With reference to my email (Friday, 06 Dec 2002) concerning the NSW bushfires. It is with considerable regret and frustration that I note the destruction of nearly 400 houses and the loss of 4 lives as a result of the current fires that are devastating Canberra.

If anything it serves to underline the extreme urgency required in holding discussions with me and instituting a programme of fire suppression and drought mitigation as soon as possible before further tragedies occur elsewhere.

Yours sincerely

Dear Mr Carr,

It is now four months since you received my offer to supress the bushfires that were about to overwhelm Sydney. That generous undertaking was immediately discharged and without financial reward. 

As you know, the disaster that engulfed Canberra a month later could have easily happened to Sydney if I had not intervened.

I am disappointed but not entirely surprised that my request for acknowledgement has been ignored. I note that the contribution of the firefighters was recognized without delay by politicians, fire and emergency services chiefs, as well as the community.

As a result of this experience, I have been made fully aware that institutional racism is as prevalent in Australia as it is in Aotearoa-NZ. Therefore, I am withdrawing my offer to provide assistance with regard to drought mitigation and fire suppression.
[...]

Sincerely,

John Porter
WM Consultant