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Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires insurance bill tops $700m – latest updates
Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires insurance bill tops $700m – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Rain falls on some NSW, Victorian and South Australian bushfire-affected areas, but worse fire conditions are forecast to return. Follow all today’s latest news and live updates
Rain falls on some NSW, Victorian and South Australian bushfire-affected areas, but worse fire conditions are forecast to return. Follow all today’s latest news and live updates
Graham Readfearn has looked at some of the wildlife potentially lost in the Kangaroo Island fire:
Australian actor Chris Hemsworth and his family have donated $1m to the bushfire crisis
The SA CFS chief, Greg Nettleton provided this update:
Corey Wingard, the South Australian emergency services minister is delivering an update on the damage to Kangaroo Island from a bushfire:
The fire is still out of control.
CFA fire chief Steve Warrington also comments on the hazard reduction burn commentary:
CFA fire chief Steve Warrington also comments on the hazard reduction burn commentary:
He is a *current* fire chief, too, for anyone who wants to push the ‘greens funding former fire chief’ agenda. But they are all saying the same thing.
He is a *current* fire chief too, for anyone who wants to push the “greens funding former fire chief” agenda. But they are all saying the same thing.
Daniel Andrews is again discussing the issues with hazard reduction burns, and why the idea that fuel reduction burns would have stopped this crisis, is not logical:
Daniel Andrews is again discussing the issues with hazard reduction burns, and why the idea that fuel reduction burns would have stopped this crisis, is not logical:
Andrew Crisp:
Andrew Crisp:
The Victorian emergency commissioner, Andrew Crisp, has an update:
The Victorian emergency commissioner, Andrew Crisp, has an update:
On Kangaroo Island, at least 56 homes have been destroyed by a bushfire. It has burnt through at least one third of the island. Two men were killed as they fled the blaze.
On Kangaroo Island, at least 56 homes have been destroyed by a bushfire. It has burnt through at least one third of the island. Two men were killed as they fled the blaze.
More on hazard reduction from a former Victorian environment minister, who says he does not recall having been lobbied by green groups to stop fuel reduction burns.
More on hazard reduction from a former Victorian environment minister, who says he does not recall having been lobbied by green groups to stop fuel reduction burns.
The Australian actor Yael Stone has announced she is giving up her American green card because she no longer believes it is ethical to have a life on two continents, given the carbon emissions from her air travel.
Stone has found success in the US as part of the Orange is the New Black cast.
Andrew O’Dwyer, the NSW RFS volunteer who was killed when his truck overturned while fighting fires before Christmas, has been laid to rest.
Anyone who has insurance questions can contact 1800 734 621, for information on claims and recovery.
Volunteer and professional firefighting organisations are coming together tomorrow, calling for a royal commission into the bushfires.
The announcement will be made on Wednesday, and involves:
Leighton Drury - state secretary, Fire Brigade Employees’ Union (NSW)
John Oliver - state secretary, United Firefighters’ Union of Queensland
Lea Anderson - state secretary, United Firefighters’ Union of Western Australia
Max Adlam - state secretary, United Firefighters’ Union of South Australia
Stewart Little - general secretary, Public Service Association of NSW
Mick Holton - president, NSW Volunteer Fire Fighters Association
This is in relation to the BBC interview Catherine King and Craig Kelly did on Saturday, where this exchange occurred between Kelly and the host – which is why Piers Morgan wanted to talk to Kelly on Good Morning Britain in the first place.
Host: So just to be clear, Mr Kelly. I want to be clear in what you’re saying, you are saying there is no link between these fires in your view and global climate change?
Kelly: Well firstly there is no link, the facts that cause the fires are the drought and the drying of the environment and on this our climate scientists down here have been very clear and they have said that there is no link between drought and climate change.
We’re showcasing stories from the bushfires in our Full Story podcast, have you been affected? Or have you been helping those affected by the bushfires? We’d love to hear from you, give us a call on (02) 8076 8550 and leave us a voicemail.If you missed them we’ve already done two episodes on the fires, one with Murph on why Scott Morrison can’t talk about climate change and another with Lisa Cox discussing how the fire seasons have changed.
Government ministers have come out against Craig Kelly’s comments this morning.
From AAP:
Emergency management minister David Littleproud described his comments as a “sideshow”.
“He doesn’t represent the views of the government”, Mr Littleproud told reporters on Tuesday.
“I couldn’t give a rats what he said, it’s irrelevant, let’s just focus on those people that are out there that need our help.”
Mr Kelly said the suggestion the government could have reduced the bushfires by bringing down carbon emissions was nonsense.
Instead, he made disputed claims that fuel loads were largely to blame for the spread of the fires.
Scientists have disputed claims a lack of hazard reduction burns have led to the size of the bushfires, with former fire chiefs blaming the effects of climate change.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also put Mr Kelly at arms length from the government.
“Our view of climate change is that it’s real. We accept the science”, Mr Frydenberg said.
While Mr Frydenberg said fuel loads had been a factor in the bushfires, he said climate change was causing hotter, drier summers.
NSW police have confirmed two people are unaccounted for south of Eden.
Getting to some areas has been almost impossible because of the damage and potential danger from falling trees.
