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Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires crisis has 'months to go' as Morrison announces recovery effort – latest updates Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires crisis has 'months to go' as Morrison announces recovery effort – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says he was frustrated to learn of ADF deployment from the media. Follow all today’s live news and latest updatesNSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says he was frustrated to learn of ADF deployment from the media. Follow all today’s live news and latest updates
Big four bank ANZ says it will donate at least $1m to bushfire relief, including $300,000 for volunteer fire services in NSW, Victoria and South Australia and $500,000 for local community support services and homeloan customers who are in financial hardship after their houses were burned down. John Howard continued:
It comes after accounting firm KPMG on Friday pledged a bushfire donation at the same time as it cancelled its annual couta boat race for CEOs. For those who have been asking where David Hurley has been, the governor general has been out and about. He’s just been a bit quieter about it.
The latest update from VicEmergency is out:
This watch and act message is being issued for Castleburn, Cobbannah, Cowa, Crooked River, Dargo, Grant, Shepherdson, Tabberabbera, Talbotville, Waterford, Wongungarra, Treasures.
The bushfires north and east of Dargo, Tabberabbera and surrounding areas are not yet under control.
Fire activity has subsided in today’s benign weather conditions.
Use this time to review your bushfire plan and make any changes needed.
John Howard has had a busy day. He took a call from Scott Morrison this morning and has just popped into the Sydney ABC 702 cricket commentary box.
Conditions in Victoria have eased but there is no end in sight to the danger.
In case you missed Shane Fitzsimmons this morning, here you go:
Big four bank ANZ says it will donate at least $1m to bushfire relief, including $300,000 for volunteer fire services in NSW, Victoria and South Australia and $500,000 for local community support services and home loan customers who face financial hardship after their houses burned down.
It comes after accounting firm KPMG on Friday pledged a bushfire donation at the same time as it cancelled its annual couta boat race for chief executives.
All the banks also have hardship programs in place for customers hit by the fires.All the banks also have hardship programs in place for customers hit by the fires.
The border fire has been downgraded to watch and act.
Victoria’s Country Fire Authority has asked people in Freeburgh, Harrietville, Smoko, Wandiligong and surrounding areas in the state’s high country to evacuate because multiple fires in the district are not yet under control.
The CFA warns those who stay that emergency services may not be able to help them.
A relief centre is open at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre.
Daniel Andrews has had to delay his press conference, the ABC reports, because his plane can’t land due to smoke.
On Wonboyn, where up to 30 people sheltered in a NSW RFS shed after they were cut off by the border fire, the RFS is working on accessing them today.
“There’s a search and rescue operation for those who may still be trapped in townships such as Wonboyn,” the RFS’s Ben Shepherd told the ABC.
Getting supplies to them will probably have to come by sea.
Helen Davidson has arrived in Wingello.
She says six homes have been confirmed to have been destroyed so far, with another four in Bundanoon.
If you need help with the government’s disaster management payment application, Centrelink call centres are open.
Disaster payment line 180 22 66 open today until 5pm AEDT.
Meanwhile New Zealand police have had to ask people in Auckland to stop calling their version of 000, because the sky (orange, as the sunlight is filtered through Australia’s bushfire smoke) is freaking them out.