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Australia fires live: NSW and SA count cost of bushfires after Balmoral and Cudlee Creek devastation – latest Australia fires live: NSW and SA count cost of bushfires after Balmoral and Cudlee Creek devastation – latest
(32 minutes later)
Residents in South Australia and New South Wales wait to discover the extent of devastation from the weekend’s fires. Follow today’s events liveResidents in South Australia and New South Wales wait to discover the extent of devastation from the weekend’s fires. Follow today’s events live
Morrison has been asked whether communities can wait until the Coag meeting in March for decisions on policies around the fires.
Morrison says he doesn’t accept the premise of the question, and argues decisions are being made now, for financial support and for help from defence.
He says decisions around coordination will be made at Coag. That includes on whether volunteers should be given the resources they need. But he isn’t keen to talk about paying the volunteers because he says it’s a bit like meals on wheels.
“We need to understand that if it is fighting fires or patrolling our beach or supporting Meals on Wheels or any volunteer SES arrangement which supports during floods or storms, Australia’s system all around the country has always, and will always, depend on having a large volunteer force to deal with these issues.”
Morrison is claiming he and his deputy Michael McCormack are on the same page when it comes to climate change policy. McCormack said the other day that more needed to be done, but Morrison has ruled out changes to climate change policy. Morrison is arguing more is being done as part of the government’s policy position. I guess it just depends on how you decide what the starting point for ‘more’ is?
Prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking at a media conference in Mudgee in New South Wales.He said he flew across the Bells Line out through Wollemi and saw the absolute incineration of land and homes.
Morrison isn’t saying anything particularly new at this stage, just a lot of platitudes. It’s his third visit of the day to one of these places.
Melissa O’Dwyer, wife of Andrew O’Dwyer, and Jess Hayes, the fiancée of Geoff Keaton, had children born just four days apart.Melissa O’Dwyer, wife of Andrew O’Dwyer, and Jess Hayes, the fiancée of Geoff Keaton, had children born just four days apart.
The Daily Telegraph has reported today how the women want their children to remember them as heroes.The Daily Telegraph has reported today how the women want their children to remember them as heroes.
O’Dwyer says she is taking comfort from her husband’s fellow volunteers.O’Dwyer says she is taking comfort from her husband’s fellow volunteers.
The Wingecarribee Shire Council has organised to take residents of fire-ravaged Balmoral and Buxton back to inspect their homes this afternoon.The Wingecarribee Shire Council has organised to take residents of fire-ravaged Balmoral and Buxton back to inspect their homes this afternoon.
The council announced on Facebook that it will provide buses for people from directly affected residences, leaving from two local RSLs around 3pm today. Staff from local police, emergency services and support agencies will also be on board the buses.The council announced on Facebook that it will provide buses for people from directly affected residences, leaving from two local RSLs around 3pm today. Staff from local police, emergency services and support agencies will also be on board the buses.
Public access to these villages remains restricted.Public access to these villages remains restricted.
RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers estimates more than 3m hectares of land has now been destroyed in the NSW bushfires.RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers estimates more than 3m hectares of land has now been destroyed in the NSW bushfires.
NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says it appears about 100 homes were lost to the weekend’s ferocious bushfires.NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers says it appears about 100 homes were lost to the weekend’s ferocious bushfires.
Backburning has been conducted around Warragamba, which remains under threat from the Green Wattle Creek fire. Kazan Brown, a Gundungurra traditional owner who spoke to Guardian Australia last week, said the fire was predicted to hit them on Saturday night but the wind didn’t reach them.Backburning has been conducted around Warragamba, which remains under threat from the Green Wattle Creek fire. Kazan Brown, a Gundungurra traditional owner who spoke to Guardian Australia last week, said the fire was predicted to hit them on Saturday night but the wind didn’t reach them.
She took these photos from Silverdale Hill, which is behind the town at Warragamba. The fire is still a fair distance from them, Brown says, but they have been warned by the local RFS brigade that this coming Saturday will also be very bad.She took these photos from Silverdale Hill, which is behind the town at Warragamba. The fire is still a fair distance from them, Brown says, but they have been warned by the local RFS brigade that this coming Saturday will also be very bad.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says NSW communities including Dargon and Balmoral ravaged by bushfires could “take years to rebuild”.Premier Gladys Berejiklian says NSW communities including Dargon and Balmoral ravaged by bushfires could “take years to rebuild”.
But she denied there was any shortage of supplies to fight the fires, saying RFS volunteers had the resources they needed.But she denied there was any shortage of supplies to fight the fires, saying RFS volunteers had the resources they needed.
She told a press conference that local firefighters were unwilling to leave their posts to take breaks.She told a press conference that local firefighters were unwilling to leave their posts to take breaks.