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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 stars at the Golden Globes are using the opportunity to keep the world’s focus on the bushfires How long it takes the more than seven million hectares of land which has burned so far, to recover will depend on what happens next with the drought.
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.
Richard Di Natale has compared Scott Morrison to Neville Chamberlain in a statement (Chamberlain is best known for his policy of “appeasement” with Hitler’s government).
“Warships steaming in to evacuate people from our own shores is not normal. Hundreds of millions of animals killed in infernos is not normal. These fires should be a wake-up call to every single member of the political establishment in Australia: we need urgent action to address the breakdown of our climate,” he said.
“Some political leaders rise to a crisis, while others shrink away and show themselves to be unfit for the job. The prime minister is behaving like our generation’s Neville Chamberlain instead of showing he understands the scale of the threat before us.”
“Scott Morrison needs to get his head out of the sand, accept the central role of the climate crisis in these fires and pledge that not one new coal mine will be built in this country – and that includes Adani.”
Russell Crowe wasn’t at the Golden Globes – he is at home, in Australia, preparing for bushfires.
Instead, he sent a prepared statement:
“Make no mistake, the tragedy in Australia is climate change-based” he said.
“We need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place it is. That way, we all have a future”
Ahead of the prime minister’s press conference at 1 (ish) let’s recap what we know:
Two people are unaccounted for in NSW.
No emergency level fires are burning, but several watch and act alerts remain in place for Victoria.
The wet season has officially begun.
Australian stars at the Golden Globes are using the opportunity to keep the world’s focus on the bushfires.
Looks like that cabinet meeting is getting close to breaking up, if it hasn’t already.Looks like that cabinet meeting is getting close to breaking up, if it hasn’t already.
The press conference should be in about an hour.The press conference should be in about an hour.
Victoria’s State Control Centre says 1.25m hectares of land has been burned across the state, in its latest update.Victoria’s State Control Centre says 1.25m hectares of land has been burned across the state, in its latest update.
That is made up of 900,000 hectares burnt in Gippsland, 200,000 in the Hume region, and an additional 150,000 in other parts of the state.That is made up of 900,000 hectares burnt in Gippsland, 200,000 in the Hume region, and an additional 150,000 in other parts of the state.
Mogo was shattered by the fires which swept through the south coast. But it hasn’t lost its sense of humour.Mogo was shattered by the fires which swept through the south coast. But it hasn’t lost its sense of humour.
Mike Kelly, the Labor MP for Eden Monaro, spent the past few weeks helping with the evacuation of parts of his electorate.Mike Kelly, the Labor MP for Eden Monaro, spent the past few weeks helping with the evacuation of parts of his electorate.
He has put together quite a comprehensive concept paper on his Facebook page. I’d recommend reading it all:He has put together quite a comprehensive concept paper on his Facebook page. I’d recommend reading it all:
Our correspondents Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin and Kate Lyons have an update on what our Pacific neighbours have offered:
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.”