Last year in this blog I wrote a rather damning article regarding the incompetent response to the Victorian bush fires, you may recall that I called for those in charged to be sacked.

Well it seems that  some of the incompetent bureaucrats may finally be held responsible for all of their various short-comings and responsibilities.

A recent article posted in the Herald Sun is calling for the resignation of Police Commissioner Christine Nixon, and I couldn?t possible agree more.

I question why it has taken over a year to consider sacking the leaders who failed Victorians so miserably and led to unnecessary deaths. Anyone working in the private sector knows that such grave errors or lack of competence is met with instant dismissal, and rightly so. But if you?re a bureaucrat apparently the same rules and expectations of competence don?t apply

Consider the head of the CFA, Phil Rees who not only let down the Victorians who perished and suffered in the bush fires but the hard working CFA itself with his incompetence and do-nothing example of leadership. I still call for Rees to be fired or at least for him to do the honorable thing and fall on his own sword and resign.

I usually don’t write about matters such as this however after researching the facts of what happened in the Victorian Bushfire disaster it made my blood boil to see so many lives lost that could have been saved with even modestly competent leadership.

I feel for those who lost loved ones and they deserve answers so the same mistakes aren’t repeated in the future.

I was taught two things by General Norman Schwarzkopf who was the leader the US Army, Operation Desert Storm back in 1991.

He shared two key rules that have stuck with me ever since.

Schwarzkopf’s Rule #13. ?When placed in command take charge?

Christine Nixon was placed in charge and despite learning that 14 people had died in the bush fires, clocked out for the day and kept a dinner appointment with her husband, meanwhile the outskirts of her city were burning down and people who police could have warned were left with little or no warning.

This is hardly taking charge when placed in command. This cost lives .And she isn’t the only one to blame as I said Phil Rees was also just as grossly incompetent.

Schwarzkopf’s Rule #14. ?When placed in command take charge but above all, do the right thing.?

Christine Nixon Deciding to go for dinner ahead of staying at the helm and leading the charge is hardly the right thing, while the person in charge was enjoying a quiet pub meal and out of touch with her response team, sadly and tragically Victorian towns were being burnt to the ground.

Despite some towns being burnt down hours before the fires even reached other areas the Control Centre in Docklands who were meant to be in control and leading the battle didn’t even have a clue what was happening.

They claim they didn’t have the technology, what nonsense.

People in Perth listening to ABC radio knew more about where the fires were and damages and deaths hours before even the Docklands Control Centre knew.

For more of the in competencies on that day Google search the bushfire commissions or see my previous blog on this matter.

It will appall you.

Lessons we can learn from this are many including.

Don’t rely on bureaucrats or Government agencies or regulators to help or protect you.

They are largely incompetent, not always but often and are generally more focused on their own agendas then the agenda of serving the public’s interest.

That’s why in life it?s critical that you take charge of your life and not be over reliant on others to protect or look after your interests ahead of yours.

You are placed in command of your life so you must take charge and not be like most that don’t and will rely on the government to fund their retirement with a pension or provide failing hospital care.

And most importantly do the right thing when taking charge.

The public should demand more accountability of those placed in charge.

People all make mistakes.

However the key is to quickly admit them, ensure they are never repeated and become a better and stronger person.

Let’s hope some lessons are learned from this tragedy as there are more bush fires coming every summer that will test if lessons have been learnt and proper leadership and systems have been put into place.

Jamie McIntyre
CEO 21st Century Education