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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 updates
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 updates
We have updated the ‘how big are these fires’ interactive again
In terms of the additional Australian Defence Force deployment:
There are a lot of images going around
497 reservists have been called out so far.
Kevin Rudd has written a piece on how he sees the government’s response:
New Zealand is sending three helicopters and an engineering team.
Of the 300 people who registered to leave Mallacoota yesterday, and have been delayed by the smoke, Lisa Neville says:
Singapore has sent two Chinooks, which are on their way to East Sale in Victoria.
Daniel Andrews on what can be done to help, once this is over (which won’t be for a while):
There was a lot in that announcement.
We will hear from Scott Morrison at 2pm.
A few quick takeaways:
Daniel Andrews again stresses that Victoria cannot take any goods or food for donations – and in fact this is now causing issues.
$2bn disaster recovery fund on top of current disaster payments.
Lisa Neville:
The states will not have to match the funding, but will complement it.
The Victorian police and emergency services minister, Lisa Neville, is also providing an update on the evacuations – and when people can get back to their communities to see what is left:
20 Service Australia pop-ups to help with accessing payments and resources.
The disaster declaration remains in place until Thursday. It is only the evacuation order that has been lifted.
Debt recovery (what is left of robodebt) to be suspended for two months in fire zones.
Victorian emergency commissioner Andrew Crisp gives more of an update:
Producer grants for restocking and fences.
There are still four people missing in Victoria.
Small business grants.
Two hundred homes have been destroyed (a number expected to rise by at least 100).
Mental health support.
The agency will be permanent, Daniel Andrews says. Because the future means it will have to be.
Direct branch of government to aid with rebuilding works.
Daniel Andrews has announced a new agency, dedicated to the bushfire recovery, with a $50m initial allocation.
Scott Morrison:
It will be headed by former Victorian police commissioner, Ken Lay.
Scott Morrison:
Scott Morrison:
The Mallacoota evacuation has been delayed by the smoke haze, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews says.
Scott Morrison has made his first major announcement today: the Andrew Colvin-led National Bushfire Recovery Agency will oversee a $2bn fund (funding over the next two years).
There were 300 people who were due to be airlifted today, which has been pushed back.
Michael McCormack looks like he is reading Scott Morrison’s notes over his shoulder.
Andrews also says a fire truck overturned yesterday, but there were no injuries.
Scott Morrison:
Hazard reduction burning is still dominating the “what happened” and “what can we do in the future” conversations.
We have an Auslan translator as well.
This is despite countless experts and fire and emergency commissioners saying they did what they could, but the window to carry it out has been rapidly shrinking.
Finally.
The Victorian premier was asked about it this morning on Melbourne radio 3AW, AAP reports:
The prime minister is giving a national update on the situation. It’s what we have heard so far, individually from the states – but this is what people have been wanting – a national response and overview of what is happening.
How long it takes the more than 7m hectares of land which has burned so far, to recover will depend on what happens next with the drought.
It’s taken way too many weeks, but looks like we have got there.
CSIRO principal research scientist Andrew Sullivan spoke to AAP:
“Within 12 months you will find most areas covered in a green sheen, in new spouts and coverage.
“If you continue to go into drought, the response of the trees is going to be affected. If you get some good rain … the response from the native vegetation is that much better.”
Malcolm Turnbull has been retweeting stories featuring Julie Bishop’s call for global climate change leadership, where she also says Australia has no real climate policy itself.
And yes, both were in government and could have done something about it. I know.
An agricultural market analyst is speaking to the ABC.
He estimates about 9% of the national cattle market, or about 3 million head of cattle, were situated in the firezone.
The sheep flock is also extensive - about 1% or more than 8 million.
There is no estimation on what has been lost so far. But it is not just the immediate losses – it’s keeping those who survived, alive, with no immediate access to fodder.
