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Power cut off prior to Karrinyup fire deaths
by Elliot K - Perth Indymedia	2007-04-11 12:01 PM +0800
April 10, 2007 - Power cur off before fire deaths There has been controversy surrounding the incident after it was revealed the electricity had been cut off to the property in the weeks leading up to a tragic fire in a Karrinyup Homeswest house last week. The WA Opposition is concerned that the woman and her two sons may have lived without power in the weeks before their deaths...
Cozette Pickering, her eight-year-old son Shayden and Rhys, 12, died when their Homeswest house burnt down on Friday. Opposition spokeswoman for child protection Robyn McSweeney says she will raise the matter in Parliament. She says utilities are not turned off without a series of checks by the suppliers, and there are protocols in place to help people who cannot pay their bills. "I will be bringing it up in Parliament. I've checked out what happens to people who can't afford to pay with Alinta Gas and Western Power," she said. "I do know that there's a process in place and I want to see that that process was followed." The State Government and the Department for Community Development have declined to comment on Ms Pickering's situation because the deaths are to be investigated by the coroner. Electricity retailer Synergy and gas supplier Alinta will not say whether they had spoken to Ms Pickering about her accounts. The ex-husband of a mother of four who died with her two young sons has described the blaze as a tragic accident. Fire investigators have been unable to say what caused the fire but today Michael Pickering confirmed that forensic officers had told him there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire: "They can only confirm that the fire started in the kitchen, they will never know what caused it because the fire was such an intense one. There were no accelerants, they don’t know whether it was a candle, gas, or whatever, they will never know apparently." Speaking for the first time, Mr Pickering told the West Australian newswpaper how the fire that started at the Finnerty Street home about 9pm quickly turned into an inferno that engulfed the home. He said the kitchen became a fireball, which quickly spread through the house, collapsing the roof. Mr Pickering had separated from his ex-wife four years ago. He was working in the Pilbara when the fire happened. The Homeswest house did not have smoke detectors or power and lacked proper water pressure. Opposition child protection spokeswoman Robyn McSweeney says the property did have gas connected. Ms McSweeney says the boys' father, Michael Pickering, is angry at Government housing provider Homeswest for not installing smoke alarms. She says Mr Pickering was also concerned by a lack of water pressure in the street. "The water was restricted and it came to mind that somebody had of picked up the hose to put out some flames then they probably wouldn't be able to use that hose because of the water restrictions going through it," she said. Neighbour Steven Clements said residents had unsuccessfully tried to smash their way into the burning house before firefighters arrived. SOURCES:

The West ABC News ABC Home destroyed in fatal fire lacked smoke alarms - ABC Family visit the site of fatal fire
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Power bills
by Mar Bucknell	2007-04-12 2:34 AM +0800
We certainly are living in interesting times when a conservative pollie says that poor people shouldn't have their power cut off if they can't pay their bills. Where was Robyn McSweeney when thousands of other people got their utilities cut off? Answer: demanding that we stop going soft on bludgers cos if they really cared about their chldren, they'd be out there looking for work. Bash the poor for being poor, then plead for sympathy when your own policies end up killing children. Fuck off Robyn McSweeney. Your compassion is needed before children die, not afterwards Link here

by Grandparents careing for Grandchildren	2007-06-22 9:40 AM +0800
Good Morning I was reading the Comment news this morning and came across your story "Alarming Figures Need Attention" while i agree that the children in care do need the love and support in a family as pointed out not always the family to take these children in and therfore become a problem for rhe state at much cost to the state and general public I represent a number of Grandperents that are raising there Grandchildren with NO FINANCIAL HELP its true i get a family payment of 240 mounth which i pay for school fee you see my grandson though no falt of his own has lerning difficuties (his Mother is a Drug addict)and he not only has to deal with the lerning problems but the fact that his mother is in prison the point is that as carers of these children (and there are many of us out there) we get NO help at all because i would never let my Grandson fall though the cracks. how much money are we saving the Govenment and the general public by careing and loving these children if by careing for my grandson he has a better quality of life and becomes a responsable member of the community we would have done a good job at no cost to the Govenment therfore why cant we be commended for a job well done it would be great to recieve some payment to help with these special children that could have so easily become one of the statistic in the paper At presant there are Grandfolks that are spending there super to raise these kids which in turn can cause financila difficauties for us ........ Regards Linda Howarth Link here
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Power cut off prior to Karrinyup fire deaths

Power bills

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