This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/jan/06/nsw-fires-live-updates-victoria-bushfires-south-australia-fire-sa-australian-bushfire-near-me-rfs-cfa-latest-news-morrison

The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires heap pressure on Scott Morrison – latest updates Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires heap pressure on Scott Morrison – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
The PM’s handling of the Australian bushfire crisis comes under further scrutiny as NSW and Victorian towns gain brief reprieve from fires. Follow the latest news and live updatesThe PM’s handling of the Australian bushfire crisis comes under further scrutiny as NSW and Victorian towns gain brief reprieve from fires. Follow the latest news and live updates
Karl Stefanovic went on about hazard reduction burns and the “huge issue there...a massive issue that’s bigger than anything Scott Morrison has done wrong” because he’s an expert, obviously. Scott Morrison is in Canberra again today. There is a cabinet meeting, where the government will sign off on the national recovery agency.
David Littleproud, appearing on the ABC this morning, was asked whether the government under-estimated the impact of climate change on the bushfire season.
And yet we had several members of the government, including the deputy prime minister, rubbish that link as the season took hold. Members of the government – like Craig Kelly – are still rubbishing that link.
In Victoria, there are still two emergency warnings – for Wangarabell, Wingan River, Wroxham and Buldah, Chandlers Creek, Club Terrace, Combienbar, Hilo Crossing, Noorinbee, Noorinbee North, Weeragua.
Here is David Crowe’s exchange with Scott Morrison.
Crowe: You’ve announced more air tankers yesterday. You announced $11m in December, but there have been calls for a long time now for more capacity with aerial firefighting and more contributions from the federal government. Why wasn’t more done by the federal government sooner to put in funding ahead of the bushfire season? Have you been putting in too little, too late?
Morrison: Well David I addressed this yesterday at the press conference we had yesterday. The response that we made was to provide the additional funding last year of $11m and this year of $11m. Which brought it up to the level that was being sought in those years. And in this year’s budget, that will be provided again on an ongoing basis. And so after becoming prime minister they were matters we put in train with that additional funding and resource and as was noted yesterday, at 8pm the previous evening we received the request for an additional water bombing asset and we moved to provide four with an additional $20m so when you look at that over the scheme over the last couple of years and the additional resource that has been provided on top of our standing commitment of $15m, it means that the resources were delivered and now we will ensure they are there on an ongoing basis.
Scott Morrison has also deflected any questions on whether or not our agencies had everything they needed in advance of the fire season. Morrison has repeatedly said the government had warnings that last year was going to be the monster season, but those fears weren’t realised. We have it now, obviously – but we knew it was coming.
It is also worth noting that the government has shown no indication it is open to shifting its position on emission reduction policies.
In fact – just the opposite. Scott Morrison has repeatedly said the government will not be changing its policy and continues to parrot the line we will “meet and beat” the Paris target.
If you haven’t read this, I recommend it.
Phil Coorey, the Australian Financial Review political editor, on what happened when the south coast was told to evacuate – and what became important.
You may remember that Scott Morrison was asked yesterday if Australia would advocate for better global climate change action with allies like the US yesterday.
Here was his response:
Julie Bishop saved her best line for last, with some advice for her former colleagues.
Karl Stefanovic went on about hazard reduction burns and the “huge issue there ... a massive issue that’s bigger than anything Scott Morrison has done wrong” – because he’s an expert, obviously.
I refer you, again, to this:I refer you, again, to this:
Julie Bishop popped up on the Nine Network’s Today show.Julie Bishop popped up on the Nine Network’s Today show.
She was, of course, asked about Scott Morrison’s leadership and response in the fire crisis.She was, of course, asked about Scott Morrison’s leadership and response in the fire crisis.
“I think Scott Morrison is doing the best he can,” she said, before going on to describe the “national crisis”.“I think Scott Morrison is doing the best he can,” she said, before going on to describe the “national crisis”.
Linda Reynolds was asked about her holiday in yesterday’s press conference.Linda Reynolds was asked about her holiday in yesterday’s press conference.
Here is how that exchange, with Samantha Maiden, went down:Here is how that exchange, with Samantha Maiden, went down:
Maiden: The Prime Minister has obviously copped a bit of belting for going to Hawaii during the bushfire crisis. Minister Reynolds, have you taken any leave during this period? Have you been out of the country at all? Maiden: The prime minister has obviously copped a bit of belting for going to Hawaii during the bushfire crisis. Minister Reynolds, have you taken any leave during this period? Have you been out of the country at all?
Reynolds: Like many of my colleagues, I have certainly spent time with my family over Christmas. But throughout that time I can assure you that I have been regularly on the phone with the CDF, with the Prime Minister, with Minister Littleproud constantly. So... Reynolds: Like many of my colleagues, I have certainly spent time with my family over Christmas. But throughout that time I can assure you that I have been regularly on the phone with the CDF, with the prime minister, with Minister Littleproud, constantly. So ...
Maiden: So you haven’t been out of the country?Maiden: So you haven’t been out of the country?
Reynolds: I have had a holiday with my family for a few days over Christmas, but again, I wasn’t on leave.Reynolds: I have had a holiday with my family for a few days over Christmas, but again, I wasn’t on leave.
Maiden: Was that in Bali?Maiden: Was that in Bali?
Reynolds: Yes I was.Reynolds: Yes I was.
Maiden: Were you on holidays in Bali?Maiden: Were you on holidays in Bali?
Reynolds: I spent a few days with my family, yes. But again, I was in total contact with the Prime Minister and the Secretary and the CDF. Reynolds: I spent a few days with my family, yes. But again, I was in total contact with the prime minister and the secretary and the CDF.
Samantha Maiden at The New Daily reports defence minister Linda Reynolds went on holiday in Bali with her family, after Scott Morrison was forced to return from Hawaii.
Maiden reports the prime minister approve Reynolds’ leave from December 28, but she was away as the Navy was called in to evacuate Mallacoota, after residents were forced to shelter on the beach.
From Maiden’s report:
There is good news for Canberra residents as well – you can actually see the sky today.
The smoke pollution which has covered the city for the past few days (with a slight reprieve on Saturday) has cleared but it will be back when the bushfires flare up again.
Given that this KEEPS coming up, Graham Readfearn has taken another look at it.
The focus today, the NSW authorities said, will be on “turbocharging” the recovery effort.
That includes getting fuel and food back to the NSW south coast and southern highlands communities which have been cut off.
Power is likely to be out for a few more days but authorities are also working on getting communications up and running.
There is no update on the number of homes which have been destroyed as yet.
There are 54 uncontained fires burning in NSW, but the RFS has no emergency alert level fires as yet.
There are still 2,500 firefighters on the ground, working on containment lines.
Some 4.9m hectares have been burnt across NSW. Shane Fitzsimmons says that number will grow:
Gladys Berejiklian has begun her briefing.
She says two people in a remote part of the fire zone are missing.
Helen Davidson wrote about what she saw at the weekend on the NSW south coast:
Gladys Berejiklian and Shane Fitzsimmons are about to give their morning briefing.
We’ll bring you that in the next few minutes, hopefully.
Australia has had another offer of help.
Good morning.
You have Amy Remeikis with you this morning as we enter another day in the bushfire emergency.
But we have good news for you today – conditions in those bad bushfire zones have eased with some much needed and welcome rain, thanks to a couple of developing lows, including one off the Western Australian coast.
It’s not over, not by a long shot, but it takes some of the pressure off fire crews, who can use the reprieve to rest, change shifts and try to get a little ahead of the fire’s path.
Scott Morrison is still under pressure though. He has been on the back foot since coming back from Hawaii and is still trying to find his balance.
We’ll see what happens today.