Australia news live: disaster assistance announced for NSW bushfire victims after up to 16 homes destroyed | Australia news
Disaster aid announced for bushfire-affected areas in NSW
Those who lost their homes in bushfires on the mid- and mid-north coast of New South Wales will receive help from the federal and state government.
Speaking to the ABC on Sunday morning, the NSW premier said: Chris minns, He said small businesses undertaking clean-up work, primary producers, logistics and transport companies and local councils could access support.
Financial and moral assistance will also be provided to uninsured citizens who lose their homes.
We know that at least 12 houses were destroyed on the Central Coast, but that number is likely to be higher. We are devastated for those families. Frankly, this is the worst news imaginable in the run-up to Christmas, exactly what they don’t need and a reminder of just how devastating these bushfires can be.
The number is expected to rise as the situation on the ground becomes clearer, with reports of up to 16 homes missing, the Prime Minister said.
Minns said support services were trying to contact affected local councils to keep roads open.
The good news is that transport has been reconnected and the line from the Central Coast to Newcastle and Sydney will be operational again from today, which is important for transport and logistics…
important events
Albanese also defended Communications Minister’s $100k expenses Annika wellsOne staff member and one public official to join the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny wong He’s in New York for a United Nations meeting.
Anika Wells was doing her job as the communications minister responsible for the world-leading legislation, which had bipartisan support to give credence to Peter Dutton when he was leader of the opposition. And this was a big deal. And it wasn’t just the event there, it was the follow-up of people who wanted to have meetings, to discuss, how is this going to happen? What can we do to participate here? While Australia exists, a medium-sized power is fighting these global giants.
The Prime Minister made a series of phone calls about the flights, who was responsible and the size of the bill; especially in the context of reporting today that Wells billed taxpayers $3000 for him to be with his family in Thredbo, which he considered as Minister, for an event related to the Paralympics.
They have the right to family reunification, all travel is in accordance with the rules.
When pressed, Albanese continued to support his minister, saying the trip was “completely legal”.
I say it was within the powers and Anika Wells was working as sports minister on that trip and agreed with the abolition of parasport.
Asked about social media backdoors, Albanese said situation would be ‘monitored’
When asked how the government would react if young people found workarounds and backdoors into social media platforms, the Prime Minister said the government would continue to “monitor” the situation.
But we made it very clear that it wouldn’t be perfect. Just like last night was Saturday night, somewhere in Australia, she was under 18 drinking in a bar somewhere. However, it is right for society to express its own views, its judgment of what is appropriate.
The Prime Minister added that Malaysia, New Zealand and the EU were considering or implementing similar policies.
Albanese says social media ban ‘already successful’
Wanting to prepare the public for a tough bushfire season and make his presence known, the Prime Minister is trying to avoid the stark contrast between his administration and Scott Morrison’s response during the Black Summer bushfires in case things got out of control.
But the next question turns to the government’s social media ban on under-16s, which the Prime Minister described as “already successful”.
What happens is that parents are having this discussion with their teenagers. We had a discussion with some of the kids who visited the studio here this morning. This will happen. This will happen. This happens in schools, parents have arguments with their children. This also means holding social media giants to account.
Anyone who reads the stories of parents who lost their loved ones in the Sunday newspapers today is heartbroken. This is a change that is not coming from the government, it is a change that is coming from parents who have taken a personal tragedy and channeled it into wanting no other parent to experience the heartbreak they have experienced.
Fire season in NSW expected to be ‘pretty challenging’ this year, Albanese says
New South Wales is expected to have a “pretty difficult” fire season heading into summer, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Albanese is speaking to ABC Insiders presenter David Speers on Sunday morning after visiting Emergency Management Australia headquarters an hour earlier.
There were losses in houses yesterday, but thankfully there was no loss of life, this has always been the priority. But as in the upper Hunter, fires are burning. There were some problems in Tasmania. And in Western Australia, around the Kimberley region. And the Pilbara.
So this summer, of course, will be a difficult summer, like all the summers that have arisen in recent times. But if you want a pretty tough case, New South Wales in particular has a number of prerequisites.
Cold change brings relief but 20 fires remain out of control across NSW
Helping firefighters working to control fires on the New South Wales coast is a welcome change, but the RFS deputy commissioner I Millington He said that firefighting efforts are continuing.
Speaking to give an update to the ABC on Sunday morning, Millington said 76 bush and grass fires were burning across the state, with 20 out of control. He also said the focus was on the fire currently burning on the Central Coast, with another change in weather patterns potentially causing the fire to move once again.
The wind is now coming from the south, which could cause the fire to move north, which has its own problems.
Millington added that there is a potential for storms.
RFS damage assessment teams were on site on Sunday morning and said an updated figure on casualties was expected as the situation became clearer.
Despite reports of power lines being downed, Millington said the RFS was not aware of any injuries as a result and the evacuations went smoothly with all processes followed.
We were very happy that they heeded the warnings and left the area. There is currently an exclusion zone and we are asking people to stay away from this area so firefighters can continue to work uninterrupted.
Prime Minister of Australia anthony Albanian ABC Insiders will speak to the presenter David Speers Sunday morning.
We will keep you informed of the latest developments as they happen.
Minns says climate crisis means ‘periods of more variable weather’ for NSW
Climate disruption is causing “periods of more variable weather” in New South Wales, the Prime Minister says.
“Can I say that unfortunately we will have more variable weather periods in the coming years due to the changing climate and I would like to say that we are out of the woods or the worst is behind us, but the reality is that is not the case.” Chris Minns in question.
The Prime Minister said it was important for people to act according to their fire plans and monitor all information channels to monitor the situation.
Climate change is caused by the mass burning of oil, gas and coal, causing a chemical shift in the atmosphere and disrupting stable weather systems. The bushfires are coming as Australia is just starting summer.
Minns was asked about the “ironicity” of the bushfires occurring just as his government announced the Eraring coal-fired power station could remain in operation beyond 2027; it was a link the prime minister denied.
That would be quite cynical.
Minns said the state is in the process of replacing its energy grid, with 85 percent of the state’s electricity coming from coal “a few years ago,” now down to 65 percent and “declining.” The Prime Minister said there were “billions of dollars coming into the grid” to develop “massive” new renewable energy projects, but the state was in the process of undertaking the transition “as we try to keep the lights on”.
I think this is consistent, but it’s not an easy way. This is a difficult thing to achieve, but we are not in favor of returning. It is extremely important to New South Wales.
Chris Minns said high winds caused the fire to spread 1 kilometer into the body of water
High winds on Saturday caused the fires to spread, including sending embers up to 1 kilometer into the water. minns He said, but firefighters managed to bring the fire under control to prevent the loss of other homes.
This was a fast-moving, very dangerous fire in a residential area and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the members of the RFS, many of whom were volunteers who risked their lives and did a fantastic public service for this state.
For more information, read the Guardian’s previous coverage of bushfires burning across the state:
Disaster aid announced for bushfire-affected areas in NSW
Those who lost their homes in bushfires on the mid- and mid-north coast of New South Wales will receive help from the federal and state government.
Speaking to the ABC on Sunday morning, the NSW premier said: Chris minns, He said small businesses undertaking clean-up work, primary producers, logistics and transport companies and local councils could access support.
Financial and moral assistance will also be provided to uninsured citizens who lose their homes.
We know that at least 12 houses were destroyed on the Central Coast, but that number is likely to be higher. We are devastated for those families. Frankly, this is the worst news imaginable in the run-up to Christmas, exactly what they don’t need and a reminder of just how devastating these bushfires can be.
The number is expected to rise as the situation on the ground becomes clearer, with reports of up to 16 homes missing, the Prime Minister said.
Minns said support services were trying to contact affected local councils to keep roads open.
The good news is that transport has been reconnected and the line from the Central Coast to Newcastle and Sydney will be operational again from today, which is important for transport and logistics…
Good morning
Welcome to another Sunday morning Guardian live blog.
Disaster assistance will be available to those in fire zones and those without insurance, as bushfires burning on the Central Coast of New South Wales reportedly destroyed up to 16 homes overnight. The announcement on Sunday morning came after New South Wales premier Chris Minns said hot and windy conditions had allowed the fire front to jump over a kilometer-long body of water.
The federal government has refused to repatriate Australian children from Syrian refugee camps despite US warnings that leaving them there would increase the risk of radicalization and harm. Australia refused to issue travel documents and passports to the children despite offers to facilitate their release.
I Royce Kurmelovs and I will be covering the blog throughout the day.
Let’s start with this…
