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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Amy Remeikis and Naaman Zhou

Third bushfire death in Victoria confirmed as NSW communities assess damage – as it happened

Scott Morrison visits a fire-damaged property in Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison visits a fire-damaged property in Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island. Photograph: David Mariuz/AAP

Summary

With that sad news, we will wrap up the blog today.

Conditions will worsen tomorrow in South Australia, and on Friday in New South Wales and Victoria, according to fire authorities. We’ve written a full story on that here:

Today:

  • Victorian authorities confirmed that a third person had died.
  • The emergency minister, Lisa Neville, told residents of the state’s north to “leave early” ahead of Friday’s worse conditions.
  • The total area burnt across the country rose to 10.7m hectares – an area larger than Portugal.
  • The NSW RFS commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, busted myths around “greenies” and hazard reduction burns – as misinformation spread online.
  • Labor called for a national audit into an estimated billion animal deaths.

We’ll be back following developments tomorrow. Thanks for reading and stay safe.

Updated

More than 10 million hectares burned

New figures have been released today by QFES that, sadly, brings the total area burned this fire season to 10.7m hectares nationwide.

That’s larger than Portugal or South Korea.

It was previously 8.4m. A QFES official told Guardian Australia they had time to do “a more comprehensive survey” of burnt areas, now that fires there had died down over the past few days. Their new figures are that 2.5m have been burned in Queensland alone since 1 August.

Updated

Fire danger warnings are out for South Australia. Six severe danger areas tomorrow.

Updated

And by Thursday and Friday, smoke haze from the Victorian fires will likely reach Tasmania, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Updated

Residents of New South Wales may also have noticed poor air quality has descended across the state today.

In Sydney, large parts of the city registered over 200 on NSW Health’s air quality index, while Wollongong reached 458, Goulburn reached 435 and Albury reached 456.

Over 200 is considered hazardous by NSW Health.

And here’s the Australian cricket captain Tim Paine and spinner Nathan Lyon meeting RFS volunteers in Wingello in the southern highlands.

Updated

Labor calls for national audit into estimated billion animal deaths

Hi all, Naaman here taking over the blog. Thanks again to Amy for her work today.

The Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, has called for a national ecological audit – conducted by all state and territory environment ministers – to ascertain how many animals have been killed in the fires.

Estimates from the University of Sydney’s Chris Dickman say a billion animals have died. According to Dickman, these calculations themselves are based on “highly conservative estimates” of animal populations in the affected areas – so could be higher.

Albanese is also calling for more funding to the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre, which studies bushfire prevention.

Updated

I am going to leave you with Naaman Zhou for the remainder of the afternoon.

Just to reiterate – fire conditions are set to return to dangerous levels from tomorrow. Please follow authorities’ advice and, particularly if you are in the north-east of Victoria or within the region of the Kangaroo Island fire, please consider leaving now.

Take care of you.

Updated

Earlier, Labor suggested the nation’s environment ministers get together to conduct a national audit of wildlife and environment lost in the bushfires.

The Greens MP Sarah Hanson-Young has also suggested a “fighting fund” be established to help wildlife recover:

We are facing half a billion animals lost from these fires right across the country and millions of hectares of habitat destroyed impacting survival and recovery of native species that are left.

We need a fighting fund to restore the environment.

The PM needs to commit proper funding to protect those animals that have survived and to restore their habitat. People are rightly asking, ‘where is the environment minister?’ The hundreds of volunteers fighting to save injured and homeless wildlife need to know what the Australian government is going to do to help them.

It is vital for the tourism of the affected regions, whether it’s Kangaroo Island, the Adelaide Hills, the south coast of NSW or East Gippsland, and it would be a jobs creator to do it.

People I spoke to on KI want to invest in rebuilding their island but it’s not just about bricks and mortar, it’s also about the very thing people come to KI to see – the environment, the habitat of those animals and the pristine wilderness area.

Once these fires are finally put out and people have started piecing their lives back together, we don’t want the PM’s focus to fall.

These communities cannot keep bearing the brunt of the climate emergency. Australians want relief and a commitment to rebuild right now, but they also want political leaders to stand up and take action on climate change because we have to adapt, we have to mitigate and we have to be prepared to take those decisions that are going to not make climate change worse.

The last thing we need is political leaders with their heads buried in the sand. This is the moment we need to use to take the necessary actions and we need to do it now.

Updated

Further on from what we were saying about disaster payments being made tax-free, Josh Frydenberg has released this update:

The Morrison government will ensure that disaster relief payments being made to individuals and businesses impacted by the devastating bushfires are tax exempt.

This decision will ensure that every dollar that is paid out to affected individuals, businesses and primary producers goes to supporting them during these difficult times and to rebuilding their livelihoods.

Notably, the exemption will extend to payments such as:

  • Disaster Recovery Allowance payments made to individuals; and
  • payments that would otherwise be taxable under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, such as grants that may be made to small businesses and primary producers.

This follows on from an announcement by the prime minister on 29 December 2019 that the payments being made to eligible Rural Fire Service volunteers will be free from tax.

Legislation to give effect to these changes will be required as was the case to give effect to similar tax exemptions in relation to the north Queensland floods. The legislation will be introduced in the next sitting of parliament.

This action comes on top of the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) ongoing support, including the automatic deferral of lodgement and payment obligations for individuals and businesses in communities affected by the bushfires.

Further information on the support being provided by the ATO can be found at ato.gov.au/naturaldisasters. Impacted individuals or businesses can also contact the ATO’s Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218.

Updated

Because we could all do with a pick-me-up, here’s some footage of a firefighter returning home to his family after almost two weeks away:

Updated

The Asthma Council wants the government to change – and standardise the way we measure air quality, and invest in real-time reporting, given the hazardous air conditions across the country:

What’s deeply concerning is that all Australian states and territories have different approaches to sharing air quality information. There is no national requirement for real-time air quality reporting of the harmful PM2.5 fine particle pollutants found in bushfire smoke. Bushfire smoke fluctuates rapidly. Information and advice based on average concentrations of PM2.5 over a 24-hour period is not helpful. Side effects can be experienced as soon as pollution levels begin to increase – they do not wait 24 hours.

... There is no safe level of PM2.5. It is critical reporting data provides useful information to guide the serious decisions people and organisations need to make to protect public health.

While especially dangerous, even life-threatening, to people with asthma and respiratory problems, PM2.5 impacts even people who previously did not have such health problems.

Updated

The Australian Council of Social Service CEO, Cassandra Goldie, has asked the government to increase the individual disaster recovery payments. From her statement:

Firstly we urge the federal government to increase the disaster recovery payments to individuals from $1,000 to up to $3,000 for people who have been adversely affected by a major disaster and from $400 to $1,000 per child. These payments have not been increased since 2006. We are very concerned that the current payments are seriously inadequate, particularly for people on lower incomes and with fewer assets, family and friends to secure transport, alternative housing options and immediate recovery resources.

Secondly, we recommend that the government allocate immediately an additional $30m in funding to food relief community sector organisations to respond to the surge in need which is likely to continue for many months.

We welcome the decision to suspend debt recovery and mutual obligation arrangements for people receiving income support in bushfire-affected areas for two months. However, we must ensure this applies to volunteer firefighters who reside outside affected areas. We also call on the federal government to suspend the quarantining of income support payments through debit cards for people affected by these disasters, noting the challenges accessing Eftpos at this time.

Importantly, key to our future response to disasters like these bushfires must be action on climate change. Australia must strengthen its own response to the climate crisis, and take a global leadership role on climate change.

Acoss has also established a ‘how to help’ guide, you’ll find here.

Updated

Lizzo is in Australia and has put herself to work helping volunteers in Victoria:

Updated

“I am just stunned and I would ask them to reconsider – there is a time for protests, and it is not this Friday,” says Lisa Neville to protesters who plan to continue their climate protest on Friday.

Neville says it is not about the issue, but because police are already stretched across fire-ravaged communities, and the state needs them to keep doing that and not be called back to Melbourne to monitor the protest.

Updated

Andrew Crisp says authorities are also worried about new fires, with thunderstorms expected, which can also bring lightning risks.

Matt Kavanagh was killed while working on preventing new fires from starting.

On the day he died, he had extinguished seven unattended camp fires, preventing other blazes from taking hold.

Across the other states:

QUEENSLAND

  • 19 bushfires across the state
  • 2.5m hectares burnt
  • 48 homes confirmed destroyed

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

  • 32 bushfires burning in the Goldfield-Esperance region, Wheatbelt, Pilbara, Perth region and south-east
  • 1.7m hectares burnt
  • One home confirmed destroyed

TASMANIA

  • 14 bushfires burning across the state’s north, east and south
  • More than 32,000 hectares burnt
  • Two homes confirmed destroyed

ACT

  • No fires burning

NORTHERN TERRITORY

  • No bushfires burning
  • Five homes confirmed destroyed

Updated

Fires update

Here is the situation on Wednesday afternoon, state by state:

(via AAP)

NSW

  • 20 people dead
  • 119 fires continue to burn with up to 50 uncontained
  • Almost 5m hectares burned - equal to the metro areas of the five mainland state capitals
  • 1,687 homes confirmed destroyed, more than 3300 outbuildings and 168 facilities razed

VICTORIA

  • Three people dead (including forest fire management firefighter, Matt Kavanagh)
  • 12 bushfires burning in the Gippsland, north-east and alpine regions
  • More than 1.2m hectares burnt
  • More than 200 homes confirmed destroyed with total expected to rise

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

  • Three people dead
  • Six fires burning on Kangaroo Island
  • More than 274,000 hectares burnt
  • 161 homes confirmed destroyed, along with 413 sheds and outhouses

Updated

Just an update – Friday will bring the next big fire threat.

If you are in a fire zone, authorities are recommending you leave now.

Updated

Fire behavioural analysts are coming in to help Victorian authorities predict the path of the fire, given we have seen bushfires exceed the worst-case scenario modelling.

Andrew Crisp, the Victorian emergency management chief, says that Victoria has asked for more help from the US:

We are always planning for what the future looks like for us, so we have basically placed an order for another 140 people from North America.

Again some remote and arduous firefighters, but also those who can work in the incident management teams.

Again, we expect to see them arrive in the next one to two weeks, so we’re always planning ahead in relation to what we are doing, in relation to the fires at the moment.

Updated

Victorians in fire zones urged to leave ahead of Friday

Authorities are getting stronger in their messages to people at risk from the fires – they are telling people to get out ahead of Friday’s worsening conditions.

There are no mandatory evacuations as yet, but they could come. In the meantime, the advice is to go, as far ahead in advance of Friday as is possible.

Lisa Neville:

We will see conditions of extreme and severe, particularly in the north country and north-east of Victoria, and the north-east where we have going fires at the moment, and very high in East Gippsland.

One of the differences that we are seeing compared to last week when we issued the evacuation order is that the humidity will be higher than it was last week.

So, instead of being below 5, we are looking at around 15 and higher in some other areas, particularly some of the alpine areas.

This absolutely makes a difference to the forest fire danger index, and that’s why today they are very similar to conditions that we experienced Sunday a week ago, and that’s why the message is the same as we issued then, that is people should leave those fire-impacted areas, the safest place to be is outside those areas and to be in built-up areas.

For those who aren’t choosing to leave, again the message is absolutely follow the warnings, follow the advice, sit on your Vic Emergency app, follow your local radio stations, get the most up-to-date information.

That would also be for all Victorians, so we know that we are going to have another round of dry lightning come through, and with the northerly and with the strong southerly change, that can potentially see fast-moving fires, grass and forest in other parts of Victoria that are also very dry, so like the northern country, for example.

So again, just really clearly for Victorians, those in the fire-affected areas, our strong advice is that the safest place to be is outside those fire-impacted areas, and you should leave and leave early before Friday conditions.

Updated

Lisa Neville:

Matt was a dedicated and respected member of Forest Fire Management Victoria for around 10 years and was on duty as part of our fire response on the day. He is being remembered for his friendly and welcoming nature, his passion for the environment, and nature, and his love of fly-fishing.

Lisa Neville says the crash that claimed Matt Kavanagh, a married father of two, happened last Friday, but a police investigation has now confirmed it was a fire-related death.

Forest Fire Management Victoria firefighter Matt Kavanagh was on duty when he and his colleague were involved in a two-vehicle crash on the Goulburn Valley Highway.

Tragically the 43-year-old couldn’t be revived and died at the scene, while his colleague was taken to hospital in a stable condition and has since been released.

Our thoughts are with Matt’s colleagues and family, including his wife and children – Jude, his wife, and Ruben and Kate, his children.

This news has come as a huge shock to the entire emergency management community in the midst of ongoing fire. Staff are being supported through that process.

Updated

The CBA’s chief economist has had a look at the impact of the fires on the wider Australian community.

Here are some of the takeaways:

What are the implications?

  • The extensive bushfires have extracted a horrible toll on lives and property. But as always Australians will bounce back. Over the past 28 years, Australia has regularly experienced bushfires, drought, floods and cyclones. Some events have weighed on economic activity. But there has also been the recovery as Australians rebuild and attempt to resume some form of normality.
  • The bushfires and drought will keep upward pressure on food prices.
  • The bushfires and eastern Australian drought are occurring at a time when consumer and business spending is restrained. So the natural disasters could have a longer-term impact. The chances of recession have lifted. So the onus is on state and federal governments to respond together with the Reserve Bank.
  • The Australian fires, the smoke and the drought have had significant international attention. And the natural disasters of fire and drought have had a much wider geographical impact on Australia than events in the past. As a result there could be short- to medium-term negative effects on tourism – especially as budding tourists add smoke haze to the list of factors they weigh up when deciding potential holiday destinations.

Updated

Victoria’s emergency services minister, Lisa Neville, has confirmed the death of Matt Kavanagh.

She is expected to hold a press conference very soon.

Updated

Third person added to Victorian fire death toll

Daniel Andrews mentioned this accident earlier this week:

Updated

'Pre-emptive' evacuation for Vivonne Bay

South Australian authorities are giving a warning to residents of Vivonne Bay on Kangaroo Island – it’s a pre-emptive warning, in case the fire breaks its containment lines in tomorrow’s more dangerous fire conditions.

The fire is not headed there now, but authorities are worried it will head there very, very quickly if the fire gets past the control lines.

Updated

Just a reminder that tomorrow will bring the start of dangerous fire conditions once again.

We have had a brief reprieve in some areas, but temperatures in some parts are going to hit 40C again by Friday.

On top of that, is a return of the winds.

It is not expected to be as bad as what was seen on New Year’s Day, but it’s not great either.

Updated

Air quality continues to be a problem across large regions of Australia:

Updated

We are starting to get a look at Mallacoota.

For those who missed it, the government is working on some legislative changes to ensure disaster relief payments are not taxed.

Debt recovery has also been suspended for both Centrelink and the Australian Taxation Office (for at least two months).

Updated

Richard Marx has come up with a fundraiser of his own:

Updated

Cher has also announced a donation:

Updated

And this is what the opposition leader had to say about the Iraq situation:

Look, these are very dangerous circumstances. I spoke to the prime minister this morning about the events that have occurred. It’s unclear some of that detail and so we would expect to get a further detailed briefing today. I know the national security committee will be meeting tomorrow.

And I’ll be having a discussion with our shadow national security committee here in Adelaide tomorrow about the latest events. I would simply say a few things. One is that I’d call upon all parties to exercise restraint.

The actions of the United States have led to another response from Iran. This is potentially very dangerous indeed.

And I don’t want to see Australia drawn into a military conflict in the Middle East.

And I think that the first priority, I agree with the prime minister in our discussion, the first priority should be ensuring that Australians are kept safe.

The Australians are located very close to where the Americans are located in the area that’s been targeted in Iraq. So they’re just next door. And certainly, in terms of Angus Campbell, the head of the Australian Defence Force, the priority has been ensuring that Australians are kept safe.

Updated

Anthony Albanese was asked about Labor’s position on coal during today’s press conference:

What we need is policies, not slogans. And I’ve been consistent about that.

I continue to believe we need a strong climate change policy, not just a two-word slogan.

And that is important.

If you stop, just like if you stopped burning coal today in Australia immediately, then the lights that are running this centre would go off. Because we still rely upon coal-fire as well as renewable energy.

Even here in South Australia that because of the former Labor government has led the way across the country.

Labor will take strong action.

But we won’t also argue, as some would imply, that you can just flick a switch and change immediately.

What you need to do is transition to a system whereby you have less emissions, you need to do that domestically.

But we also need to engage internationally.

Updated

There are still issues with getting services restored in fire zones.

Updated

The Labor shadow cabinet will also meet tomorrow, in South Australia, to discuss “more constructive proposals” on the bushfire crisis – the most recent Labor suggestion has been a natural asset – environment and wildlife – national audit.

Updated

NSW police have released a list of those who have died in the bushfire season. Twenty people have lost their lives in NSW so far:

  • A 77-year-old man at Coongbar on 9 October 2019
  • A 68-year-old woman at Coongbar on 9 October 2019
  • A 69-year-old woman at Diehard on 8 November 2019
  • An 85-year-old man at Diehard on 8 November 2019
  • A 63-year-old woman at Johns River on 8 November 2019
  • A 58-year-old man at Willawarrin on 8 November 2019
  • A 64-year-old man at South Arm on 9 November 2019
  • A 32-year-old man (RFS volunteer) at Buxton on 19 December 2019
  • A 35-year-old man (RFS volunteer) at Buxton on 19 December 2019
  • A 59-year-old man at Royal North Shore hospital on 29 December 2019, after sustaining injuries on 7 November 2019 at Yarrowitch
  • A 28-year-old man (RFS volunteer) at Jingellic on 30 December 2019
  • A 63-year-old man at Wandella on 30 December 2019
  • A 29-year-old man at Wandella on 30 December 2019
  • A 70-year-old man at Yatte Yattah on 31 December 2019
  • Believed to be a 56-year-old man at Coolagolite on 31 December 2019 (not yet formally identified)
  • A 72-year-old man at Belowra on 31 December 2019
  • A 75-year-old man at Yatte Yattah on 1 January 2019
  • A 62-year-old man at Sussex Inlet on 1 January 2020
  • A 47-year-old man at Batlow on 4 January 2020
  • A 71-year-old man at Nerrigundah, found on 6 January 2020

Updated

More US firefighters have arrived ahead of the dangerous conditions predicted in the fire zones tomorrow:

Updated

Given we have been talking about tourism impacts on Kangaroo Island:

Updated

It’s a fairly quick press conference, as the prime minister will be returning to Canberra after the Iraq incident.

Scott Morrison finishes with this:

There’s some more difficult weather coming up in front of us over the next few days here in South Australia, particularly over the next two days I’m advised, and on the east coast, particularly on Friday.

So I would just encourage everyone to follow those instructions, make sure you’re in a place of safety, look after each other and let’s stay focused on the job we’ve got ahead and supporting each other to do just that job.

Updated

Asked about penalties for arsonists, the prime minister says this:

I’m disappointed of the disgusting behaviour of seeing arsonists in a season like this, as is anyone in Australia. It just makes your skin crawl frankly.

State governments have been taking that up and have been arresting people.

In my own community, I want to thank the local police for arresting some behaviour, after residents tipped them off after seeing them – people acting suspiciously in bushland area.

We can see the best of Australia in these times but also the worst. That includes arsonists, scammers and looters.

What I will say is that’s not Australia and that is certainly not the overwhelming comprehensive definition of Australia. What you see of the spirit of Australia is what I saw where those families I met with this morning, some of whom have lost their homes, some of whom have lost their properties, and have lost thousands and thousands of stock, but what they do, stand together, support each other and commit to rebuild.

That’s what we will build on. We will build on that spirit of Australians which is exemplified by all those amazing Australians going out there and doing what they’re doing each and every day.

Updated

Scott Morrison says the state and commonwealth relief and recovery packages are working well to complement each other:

We both have different tasks. We can provide income support. We can provide support to state government infrastructure works.

The state governments will be taking the lead on those infrastructure works.

Our commitment also doesn’t include the deployment of what you see around and about you here through the defence forces and other agencies.

So this has been one of, if not the biggest responses by a federal government to a disaster of this nature we’ve seen in this country and you can expect that to continue.

Updated

Scott Morrison says the ADF reservists callout has gone well:

I’m very pleased with the level of integration between the reservists and the full-time complement of the defence forces and how they’re integrating, particularly under local priorities and direction, whether it’s here in South Australia or in NSW.

We’ve been in regular contact with Commissioner Fitzsimmons in NSW, for example. And in Victoria it’s going extremely well. I was only there a few days ago in East Gippsland. I could see it for myself.

I’m very appreciative of the support coming out of Singapore, with the additional helicopters. There’s more New Zealand support, which is turning up those helicopters. They are turning up – today, I understand General – but there’s the engineers support coming out of New Zealand and that is all working effectively under the local priorities and direction.

When ADF, particularly reservists, going into communities and setting up pop-ups together with Government Services Australia, that’s been done in concert with local state police and others to ensure there’s a very close working relationship.

At the local level, that is, but also at the state level and, indeed, well, today obviously I’ve been with the premier and had a lengthy conversation with the premier of NSW on the way here about events there as well.

Updated

Asked again about Iraq, Scott Morrison says the priority is protecting Australians and the country’s assets in the region. He says he spoke about the issue when talking to Donald Trump about the bushfires yesterday – and that Australia will “work continually closely with them”.

Well, the United States have taken the action that they, to address what’s been intelligence they said they received, which was putting their interests at risk, and they have been clear about that.

The Australian government said following that attack that the individual we’re talking about here, as well as more broadly, there’s been concerns about their operations in the region for some time.

So the United States has taken that action. We will work continually closely with them.

It was a matter I did discuss with the president yesterday when we spoke.

Obviously we also talked extensively about the bushfire situation here.

Updated

Authorities are working on getting the drinking water supply on Kangaroo Island restored – a water filtration and purification unit from Brisbane has been flown to the island to help with that.

Updated

Major General Jake Ellwood has an ADF update:

You would have seen yesterday that we had Choules undertake evacuation operations from Mallacoota.

We have Adelaide based off Eden and it is preparing, if it hasn’t already started to, disembark elements to go and assist inland.

In terms of aircraft, you would note that we’ve had an increase in aircraft. The Singaporeans have provided kindly two Chinooks that should be serviceable or working, I should say, from tomorrow.

The New Zealand defence force has provided helicopters for support and also fixed-wing support and we have also brought additional helicopters down ourselves from Townsville, so that will have a significant and positive impact.

In terms of our troops, they are the ones you will see on the ground, we are moving more and more into isolated communities, to make sure we have boots on the ground to understand what the needs are of the communities so we can either make sure we inform appropriate elements or, indeed, provide the support ourselves and I think over the coming days, that will pay dividends.

I have directed we will have two elements that will be capable of air mobile operations, based out of NSW and also Victoria, to make sure that they can launch at very short notice to provide multidisciplinary teams, that can provide support or make assessments and then provide that support as it’s required.

Everyone is moving out hard. You would have seen the numbers in terms of reservists have increased significantly. We’ve doubled our numbers, certainly, over a thousand.

I must say, having yesterday been at Eden and Merimbula and having been here today, you can’t help but be impressed with our emergency management services, volunteers, and, of course, our ADF are doing us proud as they always do.

Updated

Donald Trump has responded to the missiles launched at a Iraq base housing US troops on social media. Iran has claimed responsibility.

Labor is also calling for a national natural asset audit, to try and get an idea of just what we have lost in these fires, in terms of the environment and wildlife. From Terri Butler and Anthony Albanese:

The Morrison government should convene a meeting of state and territory environment ministers and commence an Australian natural asset audit, amid estimates that up to one billion animals have perished in the nation’s bushfire disaster.

The government must also guarantee continued funding for the nation’s Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre, which will cease to exist from July next year because it does not conform to the Government’s rewritten guidelines for CRCs, which favour commercial research.

Australians love the bush. Many of us live in the bush and our precious wildlife is deeply ingrained in Australian sense of identity.

With more than 8 million hectares burned so far this bushfire season, we must turn to land management specialists and scientists to assess the scale of this ecological disaster and advise governments on a national approach to recovery efforts.

Updated

Anthony Albanese was also asked about any potential Australian involvement in Iraq or Iran – he says we should have nothing to do with it:

Updated

'Cut tourism operators a break on refunds,' says PM

The prime minister goes on to talk about those who are looking to cancel their holidays and want refunds:

Can I also offer a request on behalf of tourism operators that have been affected: if you booked accommodation and you’re now seeking a refund, can you cut them a break?

That’s in terms of, at the very least on the timing about when you might expect to receive a refund.

These businesses have been hit very hard and their cash flow positions are not going to be in a position where they’re going to be able to meet every request.

I would particularly ask the international tourism trade industry to be mindful of that when they’re dealing with customers.

For Australians in particular, you want to help in these regions? Then cut these local tourism operators a break when it comes to what you might like to do.

Even better: why not, if you’re in a position to do so – I know not everyone is – but if you’re in a position to do so, then why not even let them keep it or, indeed, arrange for another time when you can take it up and come back and visit, whether it’s Kangaroo Island or anywhere else.

They need that help at the moment.

Updated

Scott Morrison has asked for people to be mindful of the impact on tourism operators:

Australia is open, Australia is still a wonderful place to come and bring your family and enjoy your holidays.

... Even here on Kangaroo Island, where a third of the island has obviously been decimated – two-thirds of it is open and ready for business.

It’s important to keep the local economies vibrant at these times.

So I would ask you, if you have already made those plans and otherwise can’t change them, then by all means follow through, because I’m sure the local tourism businesses, whether here in South Australia or other places where they’re able to continue to take visitors, that you would proceed.

Updated

Scott Morrison echoes the calls we have been hearing from NSW and Victoria about donations - goods are not needed, but cash is.

Back to the fires, the prime minister says the two most impacted industries have been tourism and agriculture – and Kangaroo Island is an example where an area has been hit badly in both.

Updated

Scott Morrison:

I gave authority this morning, to do what was necessary and to take what actions and decisions were necessary to protect ADF personnel and diplomatic staff in Baghdad and this is something that I will be returning to Canberra later today and meeting both with the defence chiefs as well as our key ministers and there is the scheduled meeting for the NSC in the morning to take further decisions.

All Australia diplomatic and defence personnel are safe – PM

Scott Morrison says he has been in contact with Angus Campbell, the ADF chief – and has confirmed all diplomatic and defence staff from Australia, currently in Baghdad, are safe.

The National Security Committee will meet tomorrow morning to discuss the Iraq situation.

Updated

Scott Morrison press conference

The prime minister has begun his press conference.

He’ll speak about Kangaroo Island, the fire response generally, and also Iraq.

Updated

Scott Morrison has promised a Kangaroo Island garlic farmer that he will place an order by the end of the day as community members share stories of the bushfires that have torn through the island community, destroying homes and livelihoods.

Shane Leahy, a garlic farmer and Country Fire Service volunteer who has lost his home, told Morrison he was not looking for a “handout”, but told him the island community needed help to get back on their feet. Fires are still burning on the island, and authorities are on high alert as conditions are expected to worsen over the next few days.

Leahy said he had been working 20 days’ straight volunteering for the CFS and was now sleeping on a friend’s floor.

“I was out on the western end of the island fighting the fires on Friday night, and I couldn’t get back ... there was no saving my house. My whole property is gone. I have got one shed left,” Leahy said.

He is hoping garlic stored in the shed may still be saleable.

“At the end of the day I have got to live, I have got no home,” Leahy said.

Morrison visited the sheep station of the Kelly family who lost a shearing shed his grandfather had built after the second world war, while his home suffered ember showers.

Their home survived. Tourism operators asked Morrison to support a new tourism campaign, a call also being made by Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie.

“We need to start planning now – the best way for the regions to recover including Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills is to get people visiting and spending money again,” Sharkie said. “It will still be the best holiday of your life.”

Local tourism operator Chris Schumann told the PM he had been inundated with cancellations – including in the far-off months of April and May.

“There’s no reason for people to cancel then,” he said. “What I’m saying is, don’t abandon us – we need your business.

“And ScoMo just said to me ... somewhere I’m going to do a press conference and say hey, if you’re asking for a refund from a small business doing accomodation or a tour operator for $500, give ‘Em a break and suck it up.”

Morrison is now touring a defence staging station near Kingscote, which is housing the ninth brigade of reservists from Adelaide.

He will give a press conference shortly.

Updated

Victorian authorities are pleading with climate protesters to delay their protest action beyond Friday, given the heat spike which is expected – and with it, the dangerous fire conditions.

From AAP:

Victoria’s environment minister has endorsed a police call for climate activists to abandon a planned protest on the state’s next high fire danger day.

The demonstration has been set down for Friday night in Melbourne’s CBD in response to the bushfires which have blackened more than 1.2 million hectares of Victoria.

Authorities on Wednesday urged Uni Students for Climate Justice organisers to call off the action, change the date or at least confine it to one spot.

They say the protesters so far are not budging.

Environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio says people can protest but Friday is not the day given there is a heat spike expected and emergency services personnel are needed to help fight fires.

“People are entitled to protest, absolutely, but the timing is wrong,” she told reporters while at the airport to greet North American firefighters coming to help.

“People are recovering, trying to recover, at the same time they’re preparing for another spike event.”

The last thing emergency services need is people “deviated or distracted” by the well-meaning but poorly timed protest, she added.

While police are duty-bound to provide a well-sourced contingency for a public protest, Acting Assistant Commissioner Tim Hansen also said Friday is not a good time.

“This is a distraction for us. We see frontline staff returning from the fire ground ... fatigued, that do need a break and this is now another operation we need to resource,” he told reporters.

“We are frustrated by this protest timing and we are also frustrated by the lack of flexibility by the protest organisers to work with us in trying to find a more suitable time.

“These are unprecedented times for emergency services.”

Updated

Updated

Back in the Iraq action at the moment, there are no reports of US casualties, as yet.

However there are reports of Iraqi casualties.

Updated

Our Pacific neighbours continue to assist – Vanuatu has donated $250,000 to the NSW RFS.

Updated

Our colleague Josh Taylor has looked at the causes of bushfires in the last financial year, according to the NSW RFS.

You may notice that the number put down to arson is 1.3%.

That information came from here,

Arson happens, but it is not the overwhelming cause of these bushfires. Of the 180 or so legal actions NSW police have taken this fire season, just 24 are arson charges. The rest are for things like ignoring the total fire ban, using fireworks, angle grinders, improperly disposing of lit cigarettes – that sort of thing.

And we say legal action, instead of arrests, because not all have been arrested.

Updated

We have had quite a few questions about fundraisers today.

This is a very good guide.

Updated

We are expecting to hear from the prime minister very soon.

Updated

Anthony Albanese is speaking in Adelaide, repeating that the bushfires are “not business as usual”.

“This is a national emergency,” he said.

He said the first priorities are saving lives, and protecting communities – but then the broader impacts have to be looked at: “This will have a very significant impact into the future,” he said.

“We also need to have proper assessments into whether this is the new normal. I hope that is not the case.”

Updated

The group pushing for a royal commission have been asked for more specifics about why they think it is necessary:

Q: You say you need more resources. What specifically do you need?

A: Leighton Drury notes the different kinds of technology across different organisations which don’t work together efficiently:

In Fire and Rescue NSW we’ve got less professional firefighters now than we did in 2011. We’d certainly like to see that addressed.

Stewart Little:

There needs to be funding from state and federal governments to recognise that firefighters… are frontline. We’ve had budgets cut during many many years… We have to plan, we have to fund, we have to permanently plan.

John Oliver says there isn’t even a national radio protocol. Scale up in a different way, communicate in a different way:

“If we can’t get unified comms protocol across the country … what hope have we got on the fireground?”

Updated

[continued from previous post]

Max Adlam, state secretary, United Firefighters’ Union of South Australia:

Agencies do work together really strongly. The metro fire service has a facility called strike teams ready to send out providing the resources are available. The beginning of this season there were no spare vehicles available. [Old vehicles are] not equipped with halo systems. There are concerns.

Our people work very hard on the smell of what frankly is an oily rag.

Stewart Little, general secretary, Public Service Association of NSW:

The PSA and CPSU supports the call for a royal commission. We think that’s the only way we can really cut through and look at three broad areas.

Only a federal royal commission will look at the failure over numerous years to implement past recommendations from past inquests and royal commissions. There’s been a complete failure federally to look at coordinating activity across various jurisdictions.

Sure they’re talking about it now – but why on earth weren’t we talking about this at the beginning of the fire season?

Updated

These are quotes from some of the representatives from firefighter unions calling for a royal commission. It’s worth noting that there has been talk of royal commissions previously, and others pushing back on it because royal commissions don’t solve anything if governments ignore the recommendations.

Leighton Drury, state secretary, Fire Brigade Employees’ Union (NSW):

We have grave concerns about the resourcing and funding provided to these agencies. We’re not equipped to fight these fires as we’d like to. We treat this with the upmost seriousness and it’s time for our government to do the same.

John Oliver, state secretary, United Firefighters’ Union of Queensland:

We’re calling for a RC into these fires. We need to properly examine the facets of what’s occurred this summer. Why is this season different to the past? Only a RC can give us that. Coroners reports can go someway, but a thorough examination is needed [pre, during and post] fires.

We can no longer rely on these reports [from previous inquiries] to provide unbiased reports to the decision makers. We need to look at the fires as they are, even if they were put out tomorrow. The next fire season is in nine months’ time.

We need to act quickly, and governments need to act on this very quickly.

Updated

Queensland

Emergency hardship assistance

  • Up to $180 (person) and $900 (family)

Essential services hardship assistance

  • Up to $150 (person) and $750 (family)
  • For those who lost power, gas, water or sewerage

Essential household contents grant

  • Up to $1,765 (singles) and $5,300 (couples and families)
  • For those uninsured or unable to claim

Structural assistance

  • Up to $10,995 (singles) and $14,685 (couples and families
  • For those uninsured or unable to claim

Essential services safety and reconnection grant

  • Up to $200 for safety inspections
  • Up to $4,200 for repairs
  • For those uninsured who pass an income assets test

Disaster assistance loans

  • Up to $250,000 for primary producers for up to 10 years
  • To replace machinery, infrastructure and livestock
  • Grants also available to small businesses and non-profits

Updated

Tasmania

Emergency assistance

  • Up to $250 (adult), $125 (child) and $1,000 (family).

South Australia

Personal hardship emergency grants

  • Up to $280 (adult) and $700 (family).

Re-establishment grants

  • Up to $10,000 per eligible household
  • For those uninsured whose primary residence is damaged

Disaster recovery funding

  • Up to $15,000 for primary producers and $10,000 for small businesses

Western Australia

Disaster recovery funding

  • Payments to replace essential items and repair households

Small businesses

  • Eligible interest payment subsidies capped at $6,000 for up to 10 years

Primary producers

  • Also eligible for interest payment subsidies
  • Up to half of freight costs subsidised
  • All fencing reconstruction costs reimbursed
  • Up to $1,500 for professional advice

Updated

AAP have put together a handy guide on what financial support is available in each jurisdiction impacted by the fires:

Commonwealth

  • Up to $1,000 per adult and $400 per child
  • For those seriously injured, who lost immediate family, were made homeless or had homes damaged as a direct result of bushfires

Disaster recovery allowance

  • Up to 13 weeks support for income loss.

Victoria

Emergency relief assistance

  • Up to $560 (adult), $280 (child) and $1,960 (household)
  • For those unable to access homes for up to seven days

Emergency re-establishment payments

  • Up to $42,250 per household
  • For uninsured whose homes are uninhabitable for more than seven days

NSW

Disaster relief grants

  • Uncapped payments to help replace damaged essentials
  • For those whose homes and contents have been damaged or destroyed, meet a low income test and have no insurance.

Natural disaster recovery relief

  • Up $15,000 for primary producers, small businesses, sporting clubs and not-for-profits

Updated

Scott Morrison has arrived at a fire-affected property in Kangaroo Island, near Stokes Bay in the north of the island.

The property belongs to Madelyn and Simon Kelly, who are wool farmers.

He is being joined by the SA premier, Steven Marshall, the SA senator Anne Ruston and the KI mayor, Michael Pengilly.

Morrison said conditions on KI and across the country had been “shocking and terrifying”.

He said he has seen “solidarity” in affected communities and a commitment. “We are going to rebuild ... and the platform we are going to build upon is you, because you built it in the first place,” he told community members at the property.

Updated

Sarah Hanson-Young visited the firezone on Kangaroo Island yesterday.

She has called for help for the wildlife, as well as the community.

Getting to the Victorian coastal town of Mallacoota has been challenging.

There has been a mass evacuation for those who wanted to go, involving the ADF. Now the operation to take supplies to those who remain has begun in earnest.

Updated

Scott Morrison says Australia is closely monitoring events in Iraq

The prime minister has issued this statement after the attack on a base housing US troops in Iraq:

The Government is closely monitoring the unfolding events in Iraq.

The Prime Minister, Chief of the Defence Force and Ministers for Defence and Foreign Affairs are in frequent contact.

The Prime Minister has directed the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) to take whatever actions are necessary to protect and defend our ADF and diplomatic personnel and keep Australians safe.

The Prime Minister has contacted the Leader of the Opposition to brief him on the current situation.

The National Security Committee of the Cabinet has been meeting to review this situation and take decisions as necessary since Saturday, is already scheduled to meet again for this purpose on Thursday and will be convened sooner should further information be confirmed requiring such a response, and will be done so in consultation with the CDF.

Updated

To give you a better idea of what Kangaroo Island has faced, here is the latest photo gallery.

Just a reminder, that these fires have affected one-third of the island – there is still much that has not been impacted. If you have a holiday planned for the area, just check before you head off.

Updated

From the Kangaroo Island pool copy (given the limited space, one journalist is usually nominated to send out information for all media outlets to use. The same thing happens with the visuals):

Prime Minister Scott Morrison learnt about Iran’s attack on US forces stationed in Iraq while flying to South Australia today to visit bushfire-ravaged Kangaroo Island.

Mr Morrison spoke to the Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne regarding the situation while on the flight.

He also phoned Opposition leader Anthony Albanese.

It’s understood the Prime Minister will continue to receive briefings about the attack throughout the day.

SA Premier Steven Marshall met Mr Morrison on Kangaroo Island this morning, where the two leaders will meet South Australians impacted by the fires today and announce $11 million in joint funding for recovery grants for farmers and small businesses.

Updated

Scott Morrison’s press conference should be held just after midday.

Updated

And for those who missed Shane Fitzsimmons on the issue of hazard reduction burns this morning:

A Greens member has emailed me to remind you that the Greens are in a coalition agreement with Labor in the ACT:

A copy of the coalition agreement is available here.

The fact that Greens are in government, with a Green MLA as Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, has allowed the development of a comprehensive climate policy that stands in stark contrast with anything that has been produced by the federal government in recent years.

(Just in relation to an earlier post.)

Updated

Scott Morrison is touring Kangaroo Island with the South Australian premier, Steven Marshall, as we speak.

One of the key messages the KI community has been trying to send is to tourists, asking them not to cancel any planned holidays this season.

While a third of the island has been impacted by fires, a lot has not. Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island – after Tasmania and Melville, if memory serves me – so there are still vast areas which have not been impacted and the community needs the support.

Updated

Breaking news outside the bushfire crisis: rockets fired at US airbase in Iraq

US security forces have confirmed multiple rockets have been fired at an airbase housing US and coalition troops in Iraq. Some have hit the base – there is no news of any casualties or injuries at this stage.

That follows the US airstrike that killed Qassem Suleimani, the Iranian commander killed at the Baghdad airport on Friday.

Updated

And the Commonwealth Bank has also announced its donation details:

The Commonwealth Bank will donate $1 million towards bushfire disaster relief efforts, including $750,000 worth of grants to help support local communities and replace facilities lost in the fires, as well as a $250,000 donation to the Australian Red Cross.

In addition, the bank has extended its Emergency Assistance Package – that provides support to personal and business customers affected by the bushfires – to all volunteer firefighters. The package includes loan restructuring and waiving of selected fees and charges.

CBA’s bushfire relief grants will provide:

· Up to $20,000 available to assist with the replacement and repair of lost or damaged community facilities due to bushfires.

· Community organisations, schools and local fire brigades will be able to register for support through www.commbank.com.au from Friday 10 January, with registrations open until Friday 14 February 2020.

The Red Cross has also released more information on the “All In” Australian retailer fundraiser.

Over 45 of Australia’s leading retailers with a combined network of 1,000+ stores have joined forces to provide 100% of profits from this Thursday 9th January to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.

As businesses who rely on the goodwill of their communities, the collection of local and international brands united proactively for the nation-wide initiative, seeing it as an obligation to step forward and support those that support them, collectively making a real difference. This initiative provides an opportunity for people in each state and territory, and at home through online donations, to get involved.

The retailers and supporting partners are: Abrand, Afterpay, Artesands, Ben Sherman, Brixton, bond-eye swim, Cue, Culture Kings, Dashing Printing, Dr Denim, eBay, Faithful The Brand, Farage, General Pants, Grrrl, Globe, Hugo Boss, Hush Puppies, Kwik Kopy, Lacoste, Lee Jeans, Levis, Life Interiors, Local Supply, Misfit, M.J. Bale, Nautica, Neuw Denim, Nudie Jeans, Okanui, Rodd & Gunn, Rolla’s Jeans, Sandler, Seafolly, Sea Level Swim, Speedo, Stussy, Temple & Webster, The Iconic, The North Face, True Alliance, Tutu Dumonde, Ugg, Veronika Maine, W.M. Ritchie Australia, Wrangler, XLarge.

Updated

Ellen DeGeneres is the latest celebrity to launch a bushfire appeal. She is aiming to raise US$5m.

Updated

The minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, has released this statement from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation:

The ILSC has established an emergency response grant for any Indigenous corporation whose property has been directly affected by the recent bushfires. A grant of up to $20,000 will be available to assist Indigenous corporations to immediately secure and clean up damaged properties.

The ILSC will also make available a grant to assist Indigenous land management groups and contractors assisting the vital recovery efforts with much needed equipment.

All at the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) are deeply saddened by the bushfires that are currently devastating communities around the country, resulting in the tragic loss of human life, homes, businesses, wildlife and bushland.

In response, the ILSC has established the 2020 Bushfire Emergency Response Grant for Indigenous corporations whose property has been directly affected by the recent bushfires.

Eddie Fry, Chair of ILSC and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), said a grant of up to $20,000 would provide immediate support for Indigenous corporations who have experienced the loss of or damage to property through the current bushfires.

Updated

The RFS have released the latest impact figures:

  • 1,687 homes destroyed
  • 692 homes damaged
  • More than 11,000 homes saved
  • More than 4,000 outbuildings or facilities damaged or destroyed

And 771 homes have been destroyed in only the past week (from 1 January).

Updated

Delta Goodrem has released a charity song, called Let It Rain, and it’s already shot straight to the top of the Australian iTunes charts.

Updated

Mark Butler says Labor is hoping to reach a bipartisan position on climate change policies with the government.

From AAP:

Labor is promising more ambitious policies than the Coalition at the next election to tackle climate change after Australia’s bushfire crisis.

Opposition climate spokesman Mark Butler also wants the government to allow a debate on climate change in parliament when it returns in February.

“Hopefully we could fashion a bipartisan position,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

Mr Butler said the bushfire crisis had raised the tempo of the debate around climate change in Australia and overseas.

He said Labor’s focus now was on the current emergency.

“There will be a need for a very thorough inquiry into these events and also a full national debate about how we protect future generations around climate change impacts,” Mr Butler said.

“What people can be assured of is that we will have a more ambitious climate change policy at the next election than the coalition.”

Labor leader Anthony Albanese recently toured Queensland coal country, throwing his support behind the industry.

But Mr Butler said if the world was going to meet international carbon reductions targets, fossil fuel use would have to decline sharply.

Updated

A group of volunteer and profession firefighting organisations will come together today to call for a royal commission into the bushfires:

  • 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

The Greens have also made noise about wanting a royal commission.

Since 1939 there have been almost 20 major inquiries into bushfires in Australia.

Updated

If there is misinformation to be spread, chances are a Trump will jump at it.

Twenty-four people have been charged with deliberately lighting fires in NSW. The rest of the arrests are for defying the total fire ban – angle grinding, fireworks, etc. So far, none of the Victorian fires have been deliberately lit.

No one is saying arson doesn’t happen. But spreading false claims like this does nothing to fix any problems.

Updated

Anthony Albanese was asked about hazard reduction burns this morning on Adelaide ABC radio.

Here is what he had to say:

Well, the question is do they have the resources to look at it has been the feedback that I’ve had, and the particular circumstances as well.

So, for example, when I was in Casino on the north coast of New South Wales, what the head of the Rural Fire Service there told me was that people who would normally be involved in hazard reduction in the middle of the year during the cooler months weren’t able to because the fires began so early in places like Rappville.

So, they were busy out there fighting fires, rather than engaged in hazard reduction.

And there’s no doubt that has had an impact.

But the other thing that’s had a massive impact, of course, is just the drying of the continent, the ongoing drought, that has had a huge impact. So, parts of tropical rainforest that have never burned before have burned for the first time.

While we have focused on hazard reduction burns, there is also a conversation to have about Indigenous burning techniques:

This is from an an article on the practices published on the Conversation:

Traditional Aboriginal fire practices are based on local knowledge and spiritual connection to country.

Before white settlement, Aboriginal people were a constant presence in the landscape, and traditionally burnt country by walking the land. This meant they could control the timing and spread of fire, as well as its ecological effects.

By contrast, most modern fire programs are far less flexible and responsive. They usually take place on weekdays in specific seasons and weather conditions. Many fires are ignited from the air – especially those in remote areas where vast areas of burning is desired. This technique results in bigger, more intense fires than those conducted by Aboriginal people.

Our Indigenous affairs editor, Lorena Allam, has also alerted me to this fundraiser for First Nations people who have been impacted by the bushfires.

Updated

Just a reminder, after NSW police said they were taking legal action against 183 people for fire-related offences – just 24 of those have been people charged with deliberately lighting bushfires. The rest are for disobeying the total fire ban – things like lighting fireworks, dropping lit cigarettes, that sort of thing.

Updated

The smoke haze is back in Sydney.

It’s not only reached New Zealand – it has also made its way 10,000km away to Chile.

Updated

Australian NBA players have come together to donate US$750,00 to the bushfire crisis – that works out to just over A$1m.

Updated

This is happening in so many areas right now.

The ADF has been deployed to help farmers deal with the widespread loss, including burying dead livestock.

NSW RFS crews will assess the Blue Mountains from the air this morning, after last night’s lightning strikes

Another of those claims is that hazard reduction burns were stopped by the Greens and other environmental groups.

Apart from the easily verifiable fact that the Greens are not in power anywhere in Australia, there is also fire authorities repeatedly telling us that hazard reduction burns were done, are becoming increasingly difficult to do because of shortened windows when it is safe, and these fires are so hot and enormous that they are burning through areas which had previously had fuel loads minimised by hazard reduction burns.

Shane Fitzsimmons this morning:

As a matter of fact, this season under the extremely drought-driven conditions, the depletion of moisture in the landscape, the vegetation is so dry, hazard reduction burns that are only two years old, we seeing the fires on these days skip through it.

We are only seeing effective amelioration on fires that have been done in the last 12 months say, so it has a place and it’s a valuable tool for day-to-day fires, normal seasons, but when you have got a tough season, awful fire weather conditions, so when you are running fires under severe, extreme or worse conditions, hazard reduction has little effect on fire spread.

Updated

There is a lot of misinformation about the Australian fires being spread out there. A lot.

Some of the most damaging is that the fires have all been deliberately lit.

Christopher Knaus has examined how those claims are being spread:

Bot and troll accounts are involved in a “disinformation campaign” exaggerating the role of arson in Australia’s bushfire disaster, social media analysis suggests.

The bushfires burning across the nation have been accompanied by repeated suggestions of an arson epidemic or “arson emergency”.

The false claims are, in some cases, used to undermine the link between the current bushfires and the longer, more intense fire seasons brought about by climate change.

Updated

Shane Fitzsimmons was also asked about hazard reduction burns.

The NSW RFS commissioner said it was part of the mix, and worth a discussion, but that it was not a “panacea”:

Our priorities are life, property and then environment ranks third, so we have streamline processes and I can say in any given year, of all the burns that we have got ready to go, 70-80% are cleared environmentally ready to go, we are waiting for the window of opportunity. It’s fair to say, resourcing is a challenge.

So don’t forget, as settled Australians, as Europeans, we are now living and working and occupying areas that used to freely burn. We can’t light a burn and just let it run.

Lighting a hazard reduction burn is complicated, resource-hungry, risky, and the minute we see a burn lit, I’m inundated with claims for people wanting us to pay for the cloth on their greenhouse, the embers have landed on their properties, so there are so many ramifications that come from prescribed burning.

It’s a valuable tool, it’s not a panacea.

It’s an emotive discussion, a complex environment and yes, absolutely, we should have a very healthy, frank, but factual debate about the pros and cons about what hazard reduction does and does not do.

Updated

The Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, is also in South Australia today (Scott Morrison is headed to Kangaroo Island).

He will hold a media conference in Adelaide at 11am local time.

Updated

Active fire update

In NSW there are 117 fires still burning; 50 are not contained

Lightning strikes in the Blue Mountains have authorities worried, with dangerous fire conditions expected tomorrow and Friday.

In Victoria bushfires have begun to merge, becoming larger. At least 12 are still active.

More than 6m hectares have been burned in those two states alone.

In South Australia fire crews are facing a day of “extreme” fire danger. The Kangaroo Island fire is the most concerning at this stage, and is not contained. Some 160,000 hectares have burned there so far, with 56 homes destroyed.

There were 116 livestock producers within the fire zone, with mass losses expected. There are reports that up to 1,000 beehives have also been destroyed.

Updated

Both NSW and Victorian authorities have now asked people to stop donating goods, stressing that it is very generous and people are grateful but they have no way to store or distribute the food and other donations, including secondhand furniture.

The NSW state director of the office of emergency management, Wendy Graham, says it is not overplaying it to say it is a “second disaster”, and while people are incredibly grateful, they just can’t cope with the additional logistical challenges at the moment.

“The most important thing is that we provide help in the way that help is most needed,” she told the ABC.

“We are listening to communities at the moment, what we are hearing from them is that they no not need donated goods such as clothing and toys and furniture. They have nowhere to put these things at the moment.

“Items like that can become the next disaster for communities, as they fill up community spaces and community halls.

“The most effective way that people can help right now is to donate money to those established charities. Money is so important for people at this point in time, because it gives people the choice to get what they need, when they need it. That is what is needed most.”

Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, has also said something similar over the past two days.

Australia retailers, such as the Iconic, an online distributor, have banded together in an attempt to help. On Thursday 100% of profits from many Australian retailers will go to the bushfire recovery effort. The Iconic is also offering its warehouses and distribution network to help store and later spread out donations, as people once again have homes to move into.

For more information on other retailers donating profits to the Red Cross disaster relief and recovery plan, as well as how to set up your own initiative and avoid scams, read Guardian Australia’s guide to donating to Australia’s bushfire crisis:

Updated

The NSW RFS commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, who yesterday went to a second funeral of one of his volunteers, Andrew O’Dwyer, and spent time speaking to his family, including O’Dwyer’s 19-month-old daughter, Charlotte, was asked how he was going on ABC news this morning:

We are all heartbroken.

I don’t know how anyone can’t be moved or affected by such tragedy that’s hit us here in New South Wales this year.

Of course, to lose lives and including three firefighters, three firefighters with beautiful young families, such strong, young resilient women, with two of them having beautiful little children, a little boy and a little girl, and one that’s due to have their first baby in May of this year, it’s truly heartbreaking.

We are mourning with their families because we are genuinely an RFS family and when grief strikes one of our own, we all feel it, we all hurt and, at the end of the day, whilst I see the men and women of the RFS and all their colleagues doing superhuman things every day this fire season, at the end of the day, they are human and their hearts break when we see such tragedy.

Our focus is to be with them, their family and to ensure for those little children, for baby Charlotte, baby Harvey and this new one that is on the way, in May, we owe it to them to ensure that they know that their dads were selfless, their dads were doing something for nothing more in their community than gratitude and appreciation, making a difference.

They absolutely died heroes in the most horrific of circumstances and we owe it to ensure that they always know that and they never forget it.

Charlotte O’Dwyer, the young daughter of Rural Fire Service volunteer Andrew O’Dwyer, with Andrew’s wife Melissa, receives her fathers helmet after being presented with her father’s service medal by NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons during the funeral in Horsley Park, Sydney, on Tuesday
Charlotte O’Dwyer, the young daughter of Rural Fire Service volunteer Andrew O’Dwyer, with Andrew’s wife Melissa, receives her fathers helmet after being presented with her father’s service medal by NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons during the funeral in Horsley Park, Sydney, on Tuesday. Photograph: Getty Images

Updated

The UK’s Channel 4 has also gone on the road with NSW RFS crews.

Australia’s bushfire crisis remains huge news in the UK.

Updated

And a missive from the field.

Updated

Prince Charles has joined the Queen, and his children, in speaking publicly about the Australian bushfires.

Updated

From the statetment on the PM’s planned Kangaroo Island visit:

The federal and South Australian government will provide more support to South Australian communities devastated by bushfires, as they look to rebuild and recover.

Primary producers and small businesses on Kangaroo Island and in the Adelaide Hills can now access grants to help them get back on their feet.

Prime minister Scott Morrison said assistance is being provided under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

“South Australia, particularly the Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Hills communities, have faced devastating losses. The bushfire threat is not over yet, but we will be there, backing the communities every step of the way as they rebuild and recover,” said the prime minister.

“This funding will provide grants of up to $10,000 to impacted small businesses, and $15,000 to primary producers and farmers. This will give businesses and families the immediate assistance they need to begin rebuilding.

“We have also deployed a force of 121 ADF engineers, logistics specialists and personnel to Kangaroo Island to help with immediate relief and clean-up.”

Updated

Good morning,

You have Amy Remeikis with you again today.

We enter Wednesday with concerns about the Blue Mountains after lightning strikes in the area.

Fire authorities are keeping an eye on the region after the storms – lightning is an issue not just because of the immediate fire risk, but because it can cause fire to smoulder in tree roots and bases, then flare up when fire conditions become dangerous – which is what we are expecting later this week.

Scott Morrison is on his way to Kangaroo Island. The Ravine bushfire is still burning and one-third of the island has been ravaged. A father and son died during the blaze and the impact to the community, and wildlife, has been immense.

And there have been more big donations from celebrities – including Elton John, who last night pledged a million dollars to the fire recovery effort.

We’ll bring you all of the day’s events, as they happen.

Updated

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Walking down the health aisle can feel like a promise of eternal energy and perfect immunity. Bright bottles and celebrity endorsements suggest that your diet is inherently broken and needs fixing. You aren’t failing at nutrition; the supplement myth is a multi-billion dollar machine designed to make you feel incomplete.
Budget and the Bees
Budget and the Bees
Kelly Osbourne, Sid Wilson Split: 'Struggling' Star Reportedly Calls Off Engagement 7 Months After Backstage Proposal
Kelly Osbourne has reportedly called off her engagement to Slipknot musician Sid Wilson seven months after his backstage proposal, amid claims she has been struggling with grief and relationship 'challenges'.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
"He said: 'Hold it! Keep playing that, don't stop!' He comes down in his undershorts and grabs his guitar, then completes the riff." How London’s famous clock tower and a flirtatious groupie inspired Jimi Hendrix's last great song
A story of Hawaiian volcanoes and Mick Jagger's bloody finger
Louder
Louder
E. coli cases are on the rise in the United States, and the internet rightfully blames RFK Jr.
Who wants raw milk anyway?
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
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