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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 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
Australian and international authors have raised thousands for the fire effort today by auctioning off signed books and more under the hashtag #AuthorsForFireys.
Trent Dalton, author of Boy Swallows Universe, will visit your book club and supply you with French champagne, while Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites, will put your name into her third novel (or provide a mentoring session) to the highest charity bidder.
American authors Min Jin Lee (Pachinko) and Rebecca Makkai (The Great Believers) have also pledged their support from overseas, alongside Maxine Beneba-Clarke, Tara Moss, Peter FitzSimmons and many more
It’s going to be months before we work out the full extent of what we have lost
A few posts down, we were talking about the impact the fires have had on livestock and animals. AAP has an update from Bridget McKenzie on that:
The situation in Victoria is not as bad as it was in the past few days, but it is not great either
The two men who died in the Kangaroo Island fire have been named.
Dr Clayton Lang and his dad, Dick.
There is a small bushfire in Canberra - on Hospital Hill, Boboyan Road, Booth.
Authorities say it is controllable and no homes are under threat.
We are waiting for the cabinet meeting to wrap up, after which, Scott Morrison will provide an update on the national disaster recovery agency.
The mayor of the Inner West Council is calling together representatives of Sydney Councils to work on “a coordinated response to help councils and shires in affected areas recover from the disaster” for January 13.
Mayor Darcy Byrne:
“At this moment of national emergency all of us must contribute to the effort. In particular the city must offer a helping hand to the bush.“Mayors, councillors and local citizens in affected communities have been showing real leadership during this crisis. We are ready to support their work and to stand in solidarity with theircommunities.”
Good morning from Bega.
I’m out the front of the evacuation centre at the local Showgrounds.
I was inside, but we were kicked out by a government official running the centre. I know she was in charge because she showed me her bib saying ‘manager’.
Before that though there was a good many people who were very keen to chat.
The Showgrounds are still packed despite the rain that’s been falling here since this morning. At this point, a lot of them simply don’t have anywhere else to go.
Further south this morning the road into Eden opened, then closed, then opened again as residents rushed to get home and see what had happened.
A navy ship sits docked off shore apparently filled with supplies, though no one I spoke to seemed to know when they might arrive.
There were some navy personnel busily arranging for media to go on board the ship, though why remains a mystery to me.
An #ozfireartauction has also been set up - with artists donating their pieces to the cause.
#giveitupforthefiries is also taking hold - people making donations based on the cost of a luxury - coffee, chocolate, takeaway - they plan on giving up.
There is also this fundraiser - if you follow the hashtag, you’ll see what some of your favourite Australian authors are offering up.There is also this fundraiser - if you follow the hashtag, you’ll see what some of your favourite Australian authors are offering up.
For example, Trent Dalton (who is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet)For example, Trent Dalton (who is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet)
In South Australia, the Ravine fire on Kangaroo Island is still burning.In South Australia, the Ravine fire on Kangaroo Island is still burning.
People are not allowed back to check the damage as yet.People are not allowed back to check the damage as yet.
Woolworths has updated its store closures for the south coast - almost all have been reopened and more supplies are coming.Woolworths has updated its store closures for the south coast - almost all have been reopened and more supplies are coming.
Just a reminder, if you want to help fire victims in Victoria, they can’t handle goods at the moment - there is nowhere to store it.Just a reminder, if you want to help fire victims in Victoria, they can’t handle goods at the moment - there is nowhere to store it.
If you want to help in Victoria, they recommend the Bushfire appealIf you want to help in Victoria, they recommend the Bushfire appeal
NSW authorities are working on “turbo charging” the recovery response today, with cooler conditions giving them a chance to get into areas they have been unable to reach and assess.NSW authorities are working on “turbo charging” the recovery response today, with cooler conditions giving them a chance to get into areas they have been unable to reach and assess.
Here is some of what they are dealing with.Here is some of what they are dealing with.
There are still more than 30,000 residents without power in the south coast region.There are still more than 30,000 residents without power in the south coast region.
That is going to remain that way for up to a week.That is going to remain that way for up to a week.
And while we hear from our politicians that there has never been any debate about climate change’s impact on worsening disasters, a reminder, or if you missed it, of Craig Kelly’s contribution while speaking to the BBC on Saturday.And while we hear from our politicians that there has never been any debate about climate change’s impact on worsening disasters, a reminder, or if you missed it, of Craig Kelly’s contribution while speaking to the BBC on Saturday.
Kelly:Kelly:
That is not what our climate scientists have been telling us. That’s the opposite of what our climate scientists have been telling us. And the scientist he is particularly referring to, has publicly said he is being misrepresented - that they are basing their claims on a misspoken sentence.That is not what our climate scientists have been telling us. That’s the opposite of what our climate scientists have been telling us. And the scientist he is particularly referring to, has publicly said he is being misrepresented - that they are basing their claims on a misspoken sentence.
The impact the bushfire emergency is having on our First Nations people is required reading as well.The impact the bushfire emergency is having on our First Nations people is required reading as well.
From Lorena Allam:From Lorena Allam:
You can find more information on some of the drinking water issues in this Twitter thread.
And yes, the water supply is being affected by the fires in some areas.
Greg Mullins is also asked about hazard reduction burns. He says:
Asked about Scott Morrison’s comments yesterday, claiming there has never been any dispute about the impact of climate change on natural disasters:
Greg Mullins says:
Greg Mullins is also very critical of the government’s response to requests for more resources, before the fire season began:
The former fire chief Greg Mullins, who has been speaking out about Australia’s fire preparedness since April, along with former fire and emergency commissioners from across the nation, says this is why they are concerned about what is coming:
Given this image is doing the rounds on social media, it is important to provide some context to it. It shows the areas which have been hit by bushfires from 5 December to 5 January - and has been compiled using data. It doesn’t show all the fires burning now.
Linda Reynolds denied she was on leave when asked about this yesterday.
Which obviously was news to the executive, which appointed Christian Porter as acting defence minister, according to the New Daily.
A watch and act alert has been issued for the Bemm River and Cann River in Victoria.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
* No current bushfires
* Five homes confirmed destroyed
ACT
* No bushfires burning
* Significant smoke haze from interstate blazes