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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 |
| A freedom of information request from my colleague Josh Taylor has been rejected by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet because the work would “divert resources” during the bushfire crisis. | |
| The request was about messages to Scott Morrison about the bushfires while he was on holiday in Hawaii. | |
| Visibility in Melbourne is down to less than 1km, due to smoke haze. | |
| Meanwhile, residents are trying to find the P2 masks that can help, but not completely protect you from inhaling PM2.5 particles. | |
| Meanwhile the Victorian CFA has just tweeted out that the Victorian government has its own direct donation site that goes to families. | |
| Hillsong founder Brian Houston, a friend and religious mentor of Scott Morrison, says that the church has raised half a million dollars for firefighters and those affected. | |
| Two news stories you may have missed from earlier today. | |
| An ad Scott Morrison made about his government’s bushfire response has been labelled “misleading and deceptive” by an integrity expert, reports Christopher Knaus. | |
| The ad was authorised by the Liberal party and Scott Morrison, rather than by the Australian government. | |
| Senior NSW Liberals have also lashed out at Morrison over comments his office made that the state “refused” the offer of assistance. | |
| The Daily Telegraph’s Sharri Markson reported the refusal, after a briefing by the prime minister’s office. | |
| But the Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, today said: “The answer is simply ‘no’. | |
| “There has been no offer of assistance that I am aware of that hasn’t been accepted.” | |
| And in more sport news, the bidding for Shane Warne’s baggy green – also auctioned off for bushfire relief – has already hit $100,500, in just 90 minutes. | And in more sport news, the bidding for Shane Warne’s baggy green – also auctioned off for bushfire relief – has already hit $100,500, in just 90 minutes. |
| The former England captain Michael Vaughan earlier bid $25,000, but was soon overtaken. | |
| Hi all, Naaman Zhou here taking over. I think I speak for everyone when I say a huge thanks to Amy Remeikis for piloting the blog all day. | Hi all, Naaman Zhou here taking over. I think I speak for everyone when I say a huge thanks to Amy Remeikis for piloting the blog all day. |
| In sport news, tickets are now on sale for the Rally for Relief – a charity match organised by the Australian Open, where all the proceeds go to the bushfire effort. | In sport news, tickets are now on sale for the Rally for Relief – a charity match organised by the Australian Open, where all the proceeds go to the bushfire effort. |
| The line-up is still secret (and will be announced slowly in coming days, it seems). But Tennis Australia promises “the world’s top players” with “many Grand Slam titles between them” have said yes. | The line-up is still secret (and will be announced slowly in coming days, it seems). But Tennis Australia promises “the world’s top players” with “many Grand Slam titles between them” have said yes. |
| This all started after Nick Kyrgios suggested the idea for the charity match to Tennis Australia – and the Australian had already promised to donate $200 for each ace he hit across the summer. | This all started after Nick Kyrgios suggested the idea for the charity match to Tennis Australia – and the Australian had already promised to donate $200 for each ace he hit across the summer. |
| Tickets for the charity match are as low as $54 for adults and $35 concession. The match is on 15 January. | |
| I am about to log off for the day, but Naaman Zhou is standing by to take my place. | I am about to log off for the day, but Naaman Zhou is standing by to take my place. |
| To recap the main points of the day: | To recap the main points of the day: |
| Two people remain missing in NSW. | Two people remain missing in NSW. |
| No emergency alert fires are burning, but there are still many watch and act warnings in place. | No emergency alert fires are burning, but there are still many watch and act warnings in place. |
| Cooler conditions have given firefighters a chance for shift changeovers and a rest, as well as working on containment lines. | |
| Dangerous fire conditions are forecast for the end of the week, so the reprieve will not last long. | Dangerous fire conditions are forecast for the end of the week, so the reprieve will not last long. |
| The evacuation order has been lifted in Victoria, but the disaster order remains. | The evacuation order has been lifted in Victoria, but the disaster order remains. |
| The government has committed $2bn over two years to a disaster recovery management fund, to be administrated by the Andrew Colvin-led National Disaster Recovery Agency. | The government has committed $2bn over two years to a disaster recovery management fund, to be administrated by the Andrew Colvin-led National Disaster Recovery Agency. |
| Victoria has also established a standing disaster recovery agency, to be led by the former police commissioner Ken Lay. | |
| The surplus is basically kaput. | The surplus is basically kaput. |
| I will leave you in the exceptionally capable hands of Naaman. | I will leave you in the exceptionally capable hands of Naaman. |
| Please – take care of you. | Please – take care of you. |
| The Insurance Council of Australia has confirmed those figures Josh Frydenberg gave during the press conference: | The Insurance Council of Australia has confirmed those figures Josh Frydenberg gave during the press conference: |
| The Australia Institute has responded to the government’s funding announcement. From its statement: | The Australia Institute has responded to the government’s funding announcement. From its statement: |
| Russell Crowe has shown everyone his fire truck supplies (wait to the end): | Russell Crowe has shown everyone his fire truck supplies (wait to the end): |
| Having lived through this for the past week or so, I hope anyone impacted by the smoke at the moment is OK. | Having lived through this for the past week or so, I hope anyone impacted by the smoke at the moment is OK. |