An Environment Force should be established to tackle the very serious environmental problems that confront this country. It should be established along the lines of the Country Fire Authority and the State Emergency Service, trained and equipped to tackle the many environmental threats to the future of this country.

We are all aware of the vast sums of money that are spend to prevent undesirable or unwelcome people from entering or remaining in the country. The armed forces are maintained to prevent invasion by foreign powers. Unfortunately, governments do not seem to comprehend the magnitude of the threat to the future of this country from an invasion of plants and animals that are already here. This is despite the fact that government officials within the appropriate departments are probably the best-informed people on the subject in the community.

Unlike the services mentioned above which are substantially volunteers, a force mainly of permanent employees with scope for temporary employment for people seeking shorter term employment is envisaged. This may include farmers seeking seasonal or emergency employment at times of financial stress.

Virtually every town would have a unit equipped with the appropriate gear to tackle all kinds of environmental problems. There may be a need to draw a line to distinguish those that are a direct result of inappropriate or inefficient work practices such as factory emission from those of long standing and widespread significance, such as pest plants and animals.

These units could be organised along semi- military lines. Just as Urban Fire Brigades conduct demonstrations to hone their fire fighting skills, it should be possible to design similar competitions to provide a recreational aspect to the process.

As a way of dealing with large projects that may be undertaken in remoter areas, it could involve perhaps a fortnight or month in camps. This may be a project such as a major re afforestation or erosion prevention project.

History has shown that when the country is under threat, young people are prepared to endure a great deal in the service of their country. There is little doubt that, if a survey on the issue were conducted now, it would be rejected out of hand. It is a proposal that needs leadership from the government. It needs a campaign to demonstrate the seriousness of these environmental problems to the public. It obviously also needs to be on a National rather than a State basis.

If as much money is thrown into such a campaign as is put into issues like selling the G.S.T, the community may well understand the need. The Victorian government could lead the campaign to get this scheme taken up on a national basis. The nucleus is already in place in the Green Corps scheme except that that scheme is merely fiddling at the edges of the problems.

As a side issue, it seems a more sensible way of dealing with drug problems if a number of secure camps could be established where victims could be sent where they could carry out this kind of work in the clean air and peaceful surroundings of the countryside. There would be a much better chance of breaking the cycle of addiction if they are removed from the places where they are constantly being tempted. A year or two of this kind of work and discipline and the prospect of rehabilitation to a long and rewarding life is far better than a few months of family and community destroying addiction, or death.