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| Australia to rethink fire policy | Australia to rethink fire policy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Australian government has said it would remove bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented the creation of a nationwide fire alert system. | The Australian government has said it would remove bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented the creation of a nationwide fire alert system. |
| It is thought that such a system could have saved lives at the weekend, when bushfires tore through the state of Victoria, killing at least 181 people. | It is thought that such a system could have saved lives at the weekend, when bushfires tore through the state of Victoria, killing at least 181 people. |
| A massive police inquiry is continuing into Australia's worst-ever bushfires. | A massive police inquiry is continuing into Australia's worst-ever bushfires. |
| Earlier, police reportedly quizzed two men in connection with allegations of looting in a badly fire-hit area. | Earlier, police reportedly quizzed two men in connection with allegations of looting in a badly fire-hit area. |
| Fundraising | Fundraising |
| Privacy laws and arguments over funding have been obstacles in the way of a nationwide telephone fire alert system - but the federal government has indicated that it will move quickly to create one. | Privacy laws and arguments over funding have been obstacles in the way of a nationwide telephone fire alert system - but the federal government has indicated that it will move quickly to create one. |
| See map of fires | |
| Such a system may have saved lives by sending text messages to mobile phones urging residents to flee. | |
| Police now believe that arsonists were responsible for at least two of the deadly fires. | Police now believe that arsonists were responsible for at least two of the deadly fires. |
| Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said a fire in Churchill - about 90 miles (140km) south-east of Melbourne - which killed at least 21 people, was deliberately started. | Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said a fire in Churchill - about 90 miles (140km) south-east of Melbourne - which killed at least 21 people, was deliberately started. |
| Nicole Kidman is one of the celebrity names supporting the telethonShe added that it was possible a devastating blaze that killed at least 15 people in the town of Marysville was the work of arsonists. | Nicole Kidman is one of the celebrity names supporting the telethonShe added that it was possible a devastating blaze that killed at least 15 people in the town of Marysville was the work of arsonists. |
| Police would charge anyone suspected of starting one of the fatal bushfires with murder by arson, which carries a maximum 25-year jail penalty, she said. | Police would charge anyone suspected of starting one of the fatal bushfires with murder by arson, which carries a maximum 25-year jail penalty, she said. |
| Later on Thursday, a telethon is being broadcast on national television to help raise money for those affected by the fires. | Later on Thursday, a telethon is being broadcast on national television to help raise money for those affected by the fires. |
| Some of Australia's biggest stars throwing their weight behind the event include actors Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, Olympian Cathy Freeman and cricketer Shane Warne. | Some of Australia's biggest stars throwing their weight behind the event include actors Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, Olympian Cathy Freeman and cricketer Shane Warne. |
| Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that there will be a day of national mourning - the exact date has yet to be announced -and he said there would be a memorial service to remember the victims of the bushfires. | |
| Mr Rudd has described the bushfires as "mass murder", and pledged to rebuild damaged communities, with no limit on federal spending. | Mr Rudd has described the bushfires as "mass murder", and pledged to rebuild damaged communities, with no limit on federal spending. |
| The fires injured some 500 people, left nearly 5,000 people homeless and razed 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of land. | The fires injured some 500 people, left nearly 5,000 people homeless and razed 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of land. |
| Difficult identification | Difficult identification |
| Despite rain overnight and cooler weather on Thursday, firefighters were continuing to battle several blazes. | Despite rain overnight and cooler weather on Thursday, firefighters were continuing to battle several blazes. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Anger at the looters and arsonists is rising | |
| With bodies still being retrieved from some charred towns, police have barred some residents from returning to their homes, saying the scenes would be too gruesome to bear. | |
| Marysville - a town that was virtually wiped out - remains cordoned off. | Marysville - a town that was virtually wiped out - remains cordoned off. |
| Investigators were still scouring the town where 80% of buildings were destroyed, and they had not been able to identify and remove all bodies, State Premier John Brumby said. | Investigators were still scouring the town where 80% of buildings were destroyed, and they had not been able to identify and remove all bodies, State Premier John Brumby said. |
| Up to 100 of the town's 500 residents are thought to have been killed, and Mr Brumby said he thought the final death toll would top 200. | |
| In Kinglake on Wednesday, residents were allowed to return to the charred remains of their homes for the first time since the devastation. | In Kinglake on Wednesday, residents were allowed to return to the charred remains of their homes for the first time since the devastation. |
| Ms Nixon said there had been several reports of looting in the affected areas. | Ms Nixon said there had been several reports of looting in the affected areas. |
| "Certainly some [firefighting] volunteers and citizens have told us that they have seen strange people in their neighbourhoods," she said. | "Certainly some [firefighting] volunteers and citizens have told us that they have seen strange people in their neighbourhoods," she said. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Are you affected by the fires? Do you have friends or relatives in the area? | Are you affected by the fires? Do you have friends or relatives in the area? |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |