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| NSW, Victoria fires live: Australia bushfires cause tens of thousands to flee in mass evacuation – latest updates | NSW, Victoria fires live: Australia bushfires cause tens of thousands to flee in mass evacuation – latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Victorian premier Daniel Andrews declares state of disaster for East Gippsland, urging people to flee bushfire zones, while Scott Morrison is abused by fire victims in Cobargo. Follow today’s live news and latest updates | Victorian premier Daniel Andrews declares state of disaster for East Gippsland, urging people to flee bushfire zones, while Scott Morrison is abused by fire victims in Cobargo. Follow today’s live news and latest updates |
| Victorian emergency services have just issued a strong recommendation to evacuate from Bessiebelle, Broadwater, Codrington, Homerton, Lake Condah, Macarthur, Tyrendarra, Condah South, and Condah Mission. | |
| “If you are located in the area south of the fire in Budj Bim National Park it is strongly recommended that you evacuate now and move to a safer location away from the fire.” | |
| There is a bushfire at Foote Tk - 2Km Se Of Lake Condah that is not yet under control | |
| This fire is travelling from Budj Bim National Park in a south-westerly direction towards Old Mill Road. | |
| Firefighters are uncertain if they can hold the fire at its current location. | |
| A wind change is expected around 2.00pm, which will cause the fire to change directions towards Bessiebelle. Conditions can become very dangerous and unpredictable. | |
| Hello, this is Helen Davidson taking over the blog from Luke now. | |
| New South Wales police have arrested a 19-year-old for allegedly stealing from a vacant home in Batlow, and stealing a car which he later crashed. The occupants had evacuated ahead of the bushfires. | |
| The man allegedly searched through the house and then stole a Ford Falcon sedan which was later seen being driven erratically in Batlow. | |
| “Police initiated a pursuit, but it was terminated shortly after due to safety concerns. Soon after, officers located the sedan after it crashed into a tree. | |
| The driver, a 19-year-old man, was taken to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital in a stable condition, where he remains under police guard.” | |
| Officers searched the vehicle, finding a backpack with several items believed to be stolen, including jewellery, documentation and ammunition. | |
| “This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated by police or the wider community, and we will take immediate action to bring these people before the courts,” said deputy commissioner Gary Worboys. | |
| “I also ask members of the community to be vigilant – if you see a crime being committed, call triple zero immediately.” | |
| Former New South Wales fire chief, Greg Mullins, has likened Scott Morrison’s response to the bushfires to Donald Trump’s reluctance to discuss guns after a mass shooting. | |
| “I’ve gotta watch what I say because I’m very tired, I’ve been at multiple fires,” Mullins said. | |
| You can listen to the whole interview here. It starts at 2:20 and is well worth a listen. | |
| Greg Mullins says he has never seen a bushfire situation this serious. He was in Batemans Bay on New Year’s Eve in charge of an RFS crew and, “I’m still shocked.” | Greg Mullins says he has never seen a bushfire situation this serious. He was in Batemans Bay on New Year’s Eve in charge of an RFS crew and, “I’m still shocked.” |
| What could Scott Morrison have done? | What could Scott Morrison have done? |
| “We made a number of suggestions to use the military in a more organised and less ad-hoc fashion. The answer was that’s a stupid idea,” he said. | “We made a number of suggestions to use the military in a more organised and less ad-hoc fashion. The answer was that’s a stupid idea,” he said. |
| “Eventually they were forced into using the ADF.” | “Eventually they were forced into using the ADF.” |
| The former NSW fire chief, Greg Mullins, gave an interview on ABC Radio Sydney this morning. | The former NSW fire chief, Greg Mullins, gave an interview on ABC Radio Sydney this morning. |
| You might remember he was among the former fire chiefs calling for a national bushfire summit. | You might remember he was among the former fire chiefs calling for a national bushfire summit. |
| I’m going to transcribe some of his quotes for you, but here’s a flavour below. | I’m going to transcribe some of his quotes for you, but here’s a flavour below. |
| A reminder that bushfires – and the climate emergency – will have added impacts on low-income people and those with disabilities. | A reminder that bushfires – and the climate emergency – will have added impacts on low-income people and those with disabilities. |
| Just a further update on the number of homes lost in New South Wales. The RFS now puts the figure at 1,365 since the start of the fire season. | Just a further update on the number of homes lost in New South Wales. The RFS now puts the figure at 1,365 since the start of the fire season. |
| And there is also one from Woolworths. | And there is also one from Woolworths. |
| Woolworths Narooma and Bermagui remain closed and will not reopen until Sunday. | Woolworths Narooma and Bermagui remain closed and will not reopen until Sunday. |
| Woolworths Batemans Bay and Moruya will trade until 8pm this evening (3 January) and will close tomorrow and not reopen until Sunday. | Woolworths Batemans Bay and Moruya will trade until 8pm this evening (3 January) and will close tomorrow and not reopen until Sunday. |
| BWS stores in Batemans Bay and Narooma are closed today with all BWS stores south of Nowra to Tura Beach to be closed tomorrow. | BWS stores in Batemans Bay and Narooma are closed today with all BWS stores south of Nowra to Tura Beach to be closed tomorrow. |
| Stock was replenished across Woolworths stores overnight on the south coast, with the exception of Moruya, with delivery trucks escorted by police through the Princes Highway closure yesterday evening. | Stock was replenished across Woolworths stores overnight on the south coast, with the exception of Moruya, with delivery trucks escorted by police through the Princes Highway closure yesterday evening. |
| Additional stock is currently en route to Woolworths supermarkets in the region for further replenishment today. There will be no deliveries tomorrow as a safety precaution due to conditions in the region. | Additional stock is currently en route to Woolworths supermarkets in the region for further replenishment today. There will be no deliveries tomorrow as a safety precaution due to conditions in the region. |
| Woolworths continues to support the supply needs of the Salvation Army by meeting their ongoing requirements at evacuation centres in the region. This includes a number of Woolworths trucks heading to the region with essential supplies which will arrive today. Our Bega online delivery trucks are also being used to ship further supplies from the store to the local evacuation centres. | Woolworths continues to support the supply needs of the Salvation Army by meeting their ongoing requirements at evacuation centres in the region. This includes a number of Woolworths trucks heading to the region with essential supplies which will arrive today. Our Bega online delivery trucks are also being used to ship further supplies from the store to the local evacuation centres. |
| Plans are in place to support stores that might be impacted over the weekend from the fires currently burning in the Kosciuszko national park. This includes power generators being sent to our Jindabyne, Cooma and Tumut stores. Team members from nearby areas are also helping support the stores to accommodate teams needing to remain with their homes. | Plans are in place to support stores that might be impacted over the weekend from the fires currently burning in the Kosciuszko national park. This includes power generators being sent to our Jindabyne, Cooma and Tumut stores. Team members from nearby areas are also helping support the stores to accommodate teams needing to remain with their homes. |
| A Woolworths power generator has also been provided to the Bega Shire Council to support the power and water needs for the community. | A Woolworths power generator has also been provided to the Bega Shire Council to support the power and water needs for the community. |
| Currently all stores in affected areas of Victoria remain open, although we will continue to monitor the situation over the course of the day. | Currently all stores in affected areas of Victoria remain open, although we will continue to monitor the situation over the course of the day. |
| Woolworths has supplied 45 pallets of water to the Salvation Army to distribute to the CFA for use across the far east of Gippsland and stores continue to support the needs of the CFA across the region. | Woolworths has supplied 45 pallets of water to the Salvation Army to distribute to the CFA for use across the far east of Gippsland and stores continue to support the needs of the CFA across the region. |
| I have received a statement from the Commonwealth Bank about bank closures and ATM outages. | I have received a statement from the Commonwealth Bank about bank closures and ATM outages. |
| It reads in part: | It reads in part: |
| Batemans Bay (ATMs unavailable) | Batemans Bay (ATMs unavailable) |
| Batlow | Batlow |
| Eden | Eden |
| Huskisson (closed from 12:30pm) | Huskisson (closed from 12:30pm) |
| Jindabyne | Jindabyne |
| Merimbula | Merimbula |
| Moruya | Moruya |
| Narooma (closed from 1:00pm) | Narooma (closed from 1:00pm) |
| Ulladulla (closed from 1:00pm) | Ulladulla (closed from 1:00pm) |
| Australian National University | Australian National University |
| Bright | Bright |
| Corryong | Corryong |
| Lakes Entrance | Lakes Entrance |
| Mount Beauty (closed from 1:00pm) | Mount Beauty (closed from 1:00pm) |
| Orbost | Orbost |
| HMAS Choules is expected to reach Hastings at 11pm tonight after leaving Mallacoota today. | HMAS Choules is expected to reach Hastings at 11pm tonight after leaving Mallacoota today. |
| The New Zealand government is sending a further 22 firefighters to Australia to assist in the fire effort. | The New Zealand government is sending a further 22 firefighters to Australia to assist in the fire effort. |
| In a statement, the NZ prime minister Jacinda Ardern said: “The devastation caused by these fires is taking a substantial toll on our Australian neighbours and we will continue to do what we can to assist as they deal with this extremely dynamic, dangerous and ongoing situation. | In a statement, the NZ prime minister Jacinda Ardern said: “The devastation caused by these fires is taking a substantial toll on our Australian neighbours and we will continue to do what we can to assist as they deal with this extremely dynamic, dangerous and ongoing situation. |
| “New Zealanders around the country have expressed their condolences to those who have lost loved ones and sympathy to all affected, and I extend mine too. It’s simply devastating to see the scale of the loss. | “New Zealanders around the country have expressed their condolences to those who have lost loved ones and sympathy to all affected, and I extend mine too. It’s simply devastating to see the scale of the loss. |
| “I’ve been in contact with prime minister Scott Morrison again this week to share our collective support for our neighbours and friends, and what they’re experiencing.” | “I’ve been in contact with prime minister Scott Morrison again this week to share our collective support for our neighbours and friends, and what they’re experiencing.” |
| The government’s press release states: | The government’s press release states: |
| The ABC has just broadcast some of the PM’s visit to Lucknow. All very pleasant, no repeat of the scenes at Cobargo yesterday. | The ABC has just broadcast some of the PM’s visit to Lucknow. All very pleasant, no repeat of the scenes at Cobargo yesterday. |
| This is from Monday. The fire front is now even larger and is expected to move south as conditions deteriorate on Saturday. | This is from Monday. The fire front is now even larger and is expected to move south as conditions deteriorate on Saturday. |
| Big four accounting firm KPMG has cancelled its annual jolly for chief executives and other corporate bigwigs, a couta boat race usually held at Sorrento, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, because of the bushfires. | Big four accounting firm KPMG has cancelled its annual jolly for chief executives and other corporate bigwigs, a couta boat race usually held at Sorrento, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, because of the bushfires. |
| The race usually attracts a who’s who of corporate Australia, who are ladled into couta boats – a type of sailboat historically used for fishing around the peninsula – for a race from Sorrento down to the Port Phillip Heads and back before breaking for lunch, usually compered by Eddie McGuire. | The race usually attracts a who’s who of corporate Australia, who are ladled into couta boats – a type of sailboat historically used for fishing around the peninsula – for a race from Sorrento down to the Port Phillip Heads and back before breaking for lunch, usually compered by Eddie McGuire. |
| Past attendees at the event include defenestrated Westpac chairman Lindsay Maxsted, former Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour, treasurer Josh Frydenberg and former treasurer and Future Fund chairman Peter Costello. | Past attendees at the event include defenestrated Westpac chairman Lindsay Maxsted, former Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour, treasurer Josh Frydenberg and former treasurer and Future Fund chairman Peter Costello. |
| “Out of respect for bushfire affected communities – and given the current catastrophic bushfire situation across eastern Australia – with the expectation of worsening weather conditions tomorrow and over the weekend, KPMG has taken the decision to cancel its annual Couta Boat race,” a spokeswoman said. | “Out of respect for bushfire affected communities – and given the current catastrophic bushfire situation across eastern Australia – with the expectation of worsening weather conditions tomorrow and over the weekend, KPMG has taken the decision to cancel its annual Couta Boat race,” a spokeswoman said. |
| It is not clear whether the event, which has come to symbolise corporate Australia’s insulation from the real world, will return next year. | It is not clear whether the event, which has come to symbolise corporate Australia’s insulation from the real world, will return next year. |
| The race attracted controversy – and the hashtag #yachtbanter – in 2017 when executives used the occasion to call for cuts to penalty rates, while in 2015 McGuire drew gasps from lunchers by saying that “you’ve got to love Australia, when all the Muslims are delivering the postage and parcels” in reference to Fahour. | The race attracted controversy – and the hashtag #yachtbanter – in 2017 when executives used the occasion to call for cuts to penalty rates, while in 2015 McGuire drew gasps from lunchers by saying that “you’ve got to love Australia, when all the Muslims are delivering the postage and parcels” in reference to Fahour. |
| KPMG’s spokeswoman said clients and crew would instead get a “scaled-back lunch” and it would be making a donation to bushfire support. | KPMG’s spokeswoman said clients and crew would instead get a “scaled-back lunch” and it would be making a donation to bushfire support. |