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NSW fires: acting PM Michael McCormack tells climate protesters 'you are wasting your time' – live NSW fires: acting PM Michael McCormack tells climate protesters 'you are wasting your time' – live
(32 minutes later)
All of New South Wales, South Australia, large parts of Queensland, and northern Victoria have been placed under a total fire ban on Thursday with extreme weather forecast. Follow the latest bushfires news and updatesAll of New South Wales, South Australia, large parts of Queensland, and northern Victoria have been placed under a total fire ban on Thursday with extreme weather forecast. Follow the latest bushfires news and updates
Footage of the Gospers Mountain fire showing the scale of the fire front.
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge has been arrested at the Sydney Climate protest.
Shoebridge told Guardian Australia that he was at the rally to show solidarity with the student protestors, but had been attempting to comply with a NSW Police move-on order when “they cut me off, arrested me and put me in the back of a paddy wagon”.
“It was all very unnecessary and a complete waste of police and court time, and obviously we’ll be defending it,” he said.
Shoebridge described a chaotic scene at the protest, as police attempted to issue mass move-on notices via loudhailer, but were shouted down by protestors.
“Then they [the riot squad] came in as a kind of phalanx and started singling out individuals and issuing them with single move-on directions,” he said.
Australia has reached “Devil’s armpit” level on the heat map, according to cartoonist Glen Le Lievre.
The RFS is emphasising the risk posed by a southerly wind change this afternoon, with Bargo likely to be quickly moved into the fire’s path.
Accused “raving inner-city lunatic” (see below) and leader of the Australian Greens, Dr Richard Di Natale, has released a statement today calling for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to convene an emergency meeting to address the fires.
His statement calls on the PM to do the following:
An emergency warning has been released for Gospers Mountain. It is now too late to leave.An emergency warning has been released for Gospers Mountain. It is now too late to leave.
Local incident commander for the Rural Fire Service David Stimpson has urged motorists to stay off the roads in the Green Wattle Fire zone.Local incident commander for the Rural Fire Service David Stimpson has urged motorists to stay off the roads in the Green Wattle Fire zone.
“Stay off. I don’t think I can be any more stern than that. The situation is that some people may have to move, and I would say only move if it’s absolutely necessary, otherwise stay where you are,” he told the ABC.“Stay off. I don’t think I can be any more stern than that. The situation is that some people may have to move, and I would say only move if it’s absolutely necessary, otherwise stay where you are,” he told the ABC.
He was responding to reports from locals that roads were becoming heavily congested from Picton towards the Hume Highway.He was responding to reports from locals that roads were becoming heavily congested from Picton towards the Hume Highway.
“[Cars already on the roads should] move out of the area so you are not contributing to a buildup of traffic that may impact on the movement of our fire appliances,” he said.“[Cars already on the roads should] move out of the area so you are not contributing to a buildup of traffic that may impact on the movement of our fire appliances,” he said.
Winds could shift the fire direction towards more heavily populated areas in Buxton and towards Tarmoor, and locals needed to prepare, he said.Winds could shift the fire direction towards more heavily populated areas in Buxton and towards Tarmoor, and locals needed to prepare, he said.
Alerts have previously been issued that it is too late to evacuate from these areas.Alerts have previously been issued that it is too late to evacuate from these areas.
ABC crews at Balmoral, near Picton in the NSW southern highlands, are reporting that they can see at least three homes on fire from their helicopter.ABC crews at Balmoral, near Picton in the NSW southern highlands, are reporting that they can see at least three homes on fire from their helicopter.
Forget climate change — let’s talk about exploding horse manureForget climate change — let’s talk about exploding horse manure
Yes. Michael McCormack, deputy prime minister of Australia, would like inner-city Greenies to know that while climate change may be a factor in the worsening bushfire risk, so too is exploding horse manure.Yes. Michael McCormack, deputy prime minister of Australia, would like inner-city Greenies to know that while climate change may be a factor in the worsening bushfire risk, so too is exploding horse manure.
This is not actually as ridiculous as it sounds. Spontaneous combustion of hay sheds on very hot days is not unheard of, and horse manure, when dried, is basically compacted, smelly hay. Spontaneously combusting manure piles is a recognised barn fire hazard, according to the three minutes of Googling I just did. Of course, in Australia, horse manure generally lies in the paddock and crumbles into dust pretty quickly. Anyway.This is not actually as ridiculous as it sounds. Spontaneous combustion of hay sheds on very hot days is not unheard of, and horse manure, when dried, is basically compacted, smelly hay. Spontaneously combusting manure piles is a recognised barn fire hazard, according to the three minutes of Googling I just did. Of course, in Australia, horse manure generally lies in the paddock and crumbles into dust pretty quickly. Anyway.
This is what McCormack said, in full, via my colleague Naaman Zhou.This is what McCormack said, in full, via my colleague Naaman Zhou.
Last month, McCormack said that blaming climate change on bushfires was “inner-city Greenies ravings”. He said today that those comments had been misreported, that he did not say the link between climate change and bushfires was “inner-city ravings” and that the ravings were actually comments stating that prime minister Scott Morrison was responsible for the fatal bushfires.Last month, McCormack said that blaming climate change on bushfires was “inner-city Greenies ravings”. He said today that those comments had been misreported, that he did not say the link between climate change and bushfires was “inner-city ravings” and that the ravings were actually comments stating that prime minister Scott Morrison was responsible for the fatal bushfires.
McCormack:McCormack:
Glad that’s cleared up.Glad that’s cleared up.
‘Adani is going ahead’: McCormack‘Adani is going ahead’: McCormack
Today is apparently a good day to talk about increasing Australia’s coal exports. That will be one of Scott Morrison’s aims when he visits India next month, acting PM Michael McCormack told reporters today, which could include talks to advance the Indian-owned Adani coalmine.Today is apparently a good day to talk about increasing Australia’s coal exports. That will be one of Scott Morrison’s aims when he visits India next month, acting PM Michael McCormack told reporters today, which could include talks to advance the Indian-owned Adani coalmine.
McCormack:McCormack:
McCormack was then asked the obvious question: you’re talking about coal exports while standing in the incident control centre for a statewide bushfire emergency. What about the link between climate change and bushfires?McCormack was then asked the obvious question: you’re talking about coal exports while standing in the incident control centre for a statewide bushfire emergency. What about the link between climate change and bushfires?
His answer is going to need another post.His answer is going to need another post.
McCormack to climate protesters: ‘Go and do something productive’
Deputy prime minister Michael McCormack, who is acting PM while Scott Morrison is overseas, has confirmed that Morrison will be back at work on Monday. As in, he is returning to work the day before Christmas eve.
This morning, hundreds of protestors camped outside Kirribilli House, angry at Morrison’s absence and lack of leadership during the bushfire crisis.
Speaking to the protesters through reporters at the RFS state control centre, McCormack said:
McCormack said there was no need for Morrison to return home early, despite NSW declaring a state of emergency and expecting some of its hottest days on record.
Does McCormack think Morrison has shown leadership on the fires?
I’m sure we’d all like examples. McCormack provides:
The southern highlands train line is not operating between Moss Vale and Campbelltown because of bushfire. The fire crossed the railway line near Balmoral.
A replacement bus service is being organised but if you can put off or avoid travel, it’s recommended you do so.
The scariest bit is when it turns purple, and you realise they had to put a colour code hotter than fire-engine red ...
NSW Health has provided this advice on how you can keep yourself safe in the heat.
This just in from Mark Greenhill, the Blue Mountains mayor, who has written about his fury at watching the devastation unfolding around him:
Visibility in NSW continues to worsen. Here is some satellite vision of the smoke on the east coast of NSW.
More on the Green Wattle Creek fire: the Illawarra Mercury reports multiple houses alight.
The Green Wattle Creek fire is worsening. It is now too late to leave in Buxton, Couridjah, Thirlmere and Tahmoor.
The fire has crossed the railway line near Balmoral.
A lot of sad and scary fire news around today, so please take a brief emotional break and enjoy this picture of a koala in a bucket.
The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has just gone on radio station 2GB to discuss her declaration that NSW is now in a state of emergency. She said that while today was extremely concerning, authorities were most worried about conditions on Saturday.
“The temperatures will be higher, and the wind turbulence more severe,” she said.
After the recent public outcry about resourcing for fire services, Berejiklian stated that they were well equipped to manage the coming days.
“We have everything we need, we have the resources on the ground, but what we don’t have is a crystal ball in relation to these conditions,” she said.
But she asked that people heed health and safety warnings.