We are doing our best to raise our families and trying to manage in a sustainable way energy costs, recycling waste, supporting our kids’ schools, those affected by natural disasters and undertaking voluntary work in a variety of community organisations.

Ordinary people are doing ordinary things despite the fact that there are no wage increases, a range of workers are taking wage cuts or redundancy and penalty rates are under attack. 

Add to that the real threat to ordinary people from the casualisation of work that is leading to a lack of job security.

Meanwhile we have a conservative government led by a weak and spineless individual that hasn't got the guts to take on the fundamentalists in his government. 

This is a government that gives tax benefits to big business at the same time attacking those on welfare and the take home pay of workers affected by the removal of penalty rates.

On the other side we have Labor that through its leader projects little confidence things are going to change for the better.

Remember it wasn't only the conservatives that privatised government trading businesses with the resultant loss of ongoing revenue - that will need to be made up by ordinary working people once the profits have been spent. 

Then we come to the Greens. Slowly they have become a "political party" with factions and  personalities ready to interpret policy and procedures that best reflect their own ambition. 

The last time the Greens did a deal with the conservatives we ended up with four members of One Nation.

What the Australian Greens have forgotten is to maximise the environmental benefits there needs to be a social justice element that ensures all share in the benefits of a clean green environment.

Let’s face it, there is no stronger advocate for justice in the workplace and in society  generally than Lee Rhiannon.

Australia’s emergency workers know the horrifying realities of the road toll all too well, as they respond to serious accidents on a daily basis.

All are committed to bringing down the road toll and any rules, and measures, which increase safety for drivers.

In NSW, I believe more needs to be done to protect emergency workers on the road – specifically - a new law that requires drivers to slow to 40km/h when passing a stationary, or slow moving, emergency vehicle with flashing lights or sirens.

Drivers should only increase their speed again, when reaching a safe distance from the scene.

This would be consistent with steps Victoria and South Australia have taken to protect emergency service workers. 

It is the same law we use in other areas of the community where vulnerable road users are present, like school zones, school buses and roadwork sites.

As the representative association of the 74,000 members of the NSW Rural Fire Service, I believe this measure is vital in protecting NSW RFS members, and all emergency services workers. 

In fact, given the frequency of interstate firefighting arrangements during major emergencies, consistent road rules nationally would be logical in minimising accidents and protecting the safety of emergency service workers, protecting the community, right across the nation. It would also assist drivers when travelling interstate.  

The safety of our members is paramount, and the association will continue to lobby and work with government in advocating the adoption of a 40km/h speed limit as a means to safeguard the safety of the people whose job is to protect and safeguard the community.