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Australia fires live: 17 missing in Victoria bushfires as tourists told to evacuate NSW south coast – latest
Australia fires live: 17 missing in Victoria bushfires as tourists told to evacuate NSW south coast – latest
(32 minutes later)
At least 10 people have died since Christmas Day, and the RFS is urging people to evacuate the New South Wales south coast before dangerous conditions on the weekend. Follow the live news and latest updates today
At least 10 people have died since Christmas Day, and the RFS is urging people to evacuate the New South Wales south coast before dangerous conditions on the weekend. Follow the live news and latest updates today
Scott Morrison tells us what the emergency commissioners have already made clear - the fires will continue to burn for months in many areas, until there is a change in conditions.
Scott Morrison gets quite testy with this question:
Scott Morrison appeals directly to those attempting to evacuate and asks them to stay calm and be patient:
Question: Can you tell Australians about what your government is doing to mitigate the plan for the long-term economic and environmental impact of climate change over the generations as our children grow up?
On the calls for further ADF assistance, Scott Morrison says:
Morrison:
Scott Morrison on the defence force deployments:
And with that, he ends the press conference and leaves the room.
Scott Morrison finishes that answer with:
He continues:
On whether or not Scott Morrison is preparing for this to be Australia’s new normal:
Batlow – the former apple capital – is also being evacuated.
Fire authorities called a town meeting yesterday to tell residents there is nothing they can do to stop the blazes coming and everyone should get out.
The town has suffered immensely since imported varieties of apples started flooding the Australian market. There are those within the town who believe the fires, if they come through, could be the end of the town.
If you are in that area, get out.
Can more be done?
Scott Morrison:
Scott Morrison:
Scott Morrison has begun his press conference from the Sydney CPO (the federal government building in NSW).
What other assets are coming?
He has just returned from the funeral of Horsley Park brigade deputy captain Geoff Keaton.
Scott Morrison:
Daniel Andrews:
We move on to climate change:
The Princes Highway remains closed in the following locations:
Question: You talked about anxiety and fear and terror in the community and you talked about operational issues today. What about the long-term threat? All the experts say this event is turbocharged by climate change and a lot of people would say your government is not doing enough about climate change. What about the long-term threat and what is your government doing to allay those fears and anxiety”
• Between Batemans Bay and Moruya
Scott Morrison:
• Between Narrabarba and Cann River (Victoria)
Question: Do you understand the frustration of people when you keep saying this is a state issue, this is the state agencies in control of this? We have fires raging all around the country and you’re the prime minister.
- From Narrabarba, you can travel west on Imlay Road to the Monaro Highway to head north.
Scott Morrison:
The Snowy Mountains Highway is open between Bega and Adaminaby so anyone on the far south coast is also able to travel to Canberra or Sydney via the Snowy Mountains Highway to Cooma, the Monaro Highway to Canberra and the Hume Highway.
Asked about residents in Lake Conjola who are without food, water or in a lot of cases, homes, Scott Morrison says:
Many other roads remain closed including:
Scott Morrison continues on the “don’t panic” answer:
South of Nowra:
Scott Morrison is asked when is the time to actually be worried, or start panicking, given the extent of this natural disaster:
• Jerrawangala to Tomerong: Turpentine Road is closed
Police are now turning around northbound traffic at Milton – effectively cutting the Princes Highway and the northbound route from the south coast to Sydney.
• Wandandian: Wandean Road is closed between the Princes Highway and Bollerang Road
Official advice from NSW Live Traffic is for people to delay their journey.
• Nowra Hill to Charleyong: Braidwood Road/Nerriga Road is closed
Around Braidwood:
• Braidwood to Nelligen: the Kings Highway is closed
• Braidwood to Moruya: Araluen Road is closed
• Braidwood to Cooma: Cooma Road is closed
In and around the Snowy Mountains:
• Tumut to Adaminaby: the Snowy Mountains Highway is closed
• Batlow to Tumbarumba: Batlow Road is closed
• Jindabyne to Khancoban: Alpine Way is closed
A number of smaller local roads are also closed in the south coast and Snowy Mountains areas, and many roads crossing the NSW-Victorian border are also closed, including the Monaro Highway between Rockton and Cann River (Victoria).
Up to the minute information about road closures is available at livetraffic.com.
The NSW police have more information on road closures and the evacuation of the south coast and Snowy Mountains.
The Transport Management Centre has provided the following information about traffic movement and road closures, which is current as at 11.30am:
Motorists on the south coast are able to travel north on the Princes Highway from Batemans Bay.
The Princes Highway as also recently reopened between Tilba Tilba and Brogo, as well as between Falls Creek and Milton.
A reduced speed limit of 60km/h is in place, and the highway may be closed for short periods to allow emergency vehicles through.
Motorists are advised to take extreme care, follow the directions of emergency services and traffic crews, and drive with headlights switched on due to smoke in the area.
Motorists should also allow plenty of extra travel time and be patient as northbound traffic on the Princes Highway is very heavy approaching Wandandian and is queued back almost to Termeil.
NSW authorities have once again shut the highway out of the south coast as conditions become too dangerous.
While Anthony Albanese is speaking, the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed another person has died and 17 people are unaccounted for after the East Gippsland fires.
But people voted for Scott Morrison and his government’s policies:
The government says it will meet its Paris targets, to which Anthony Albanese said:
Would Labor introduce a carbon price?
And what else is needed, according to Anthony Albanese?
What does Anthony Albanese think needs to change? Does the nation need to consider a carbon price?
Anthony Albanese is using this interview, which comes ahead of Scott Morrison’s doorstop interview at 1pm, to hit the government over its climate change strategy.
