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Australia fires: NSW bushfires cause tens of thousands to flee as Victoria declares state of disaster – live Australia fires: NSW bushfires cause tens of thousands to flee as Victoria declares state of disaster – live
(32 minutes later)
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews declares state of disaster for East Gippsland, urging people to flee bushfire zones, while Scott Morrison is abused by fire victims in Cobargo. Follow today’s live news and latest updatesVictorian premier Daniel Andrews declares state of disaster for East Gippsland, urging people to flee bushfire zones, while Scott Morrison is abused by fire victims in Cobargo. Follow today’s live news and latest updates
The ABC has just broadcast some of the PM’s visit to Lucknow. All very pleasant, no repeat of the scenes at Cobargo yesterday.
This is from Monday. The fire front is now even larger and is expected to move south as conditions deteriorate on Saturday.
Big four accounting firm KPMG has cancelled its annual jolly for chief executives and other corporate bigwigs, a couta boat race usually held at Sorrento, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, because of the bushfires.
The race usually attracts a who’s who of corporate Australia, who are ladled into couta boats – a type of sailboat historically used for fishing around the peninsula – for a race from Sorrento down to the Port Phillip Heads and back before breaking for lunch, usually compered by Eddie McGuire.
Past attendees at the event include defenestrated Westpac chairman Lindsay Maxsted, former Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour, treasurer Josh Frydenberg and former treasurer and Future Fund chairman Peter Costello.
“Out of respect for bushfire affected communities – and given the current catastrophic bushfire situation across eastern Australia – with the expectation of worsening weather conditions tomorrow and over the weekend, KPMG has taken the decision to cancel its annual Couta Boat race,” a spokeswoman said.
It is not clear whether the event, which has come to symbolise corporate Australia’s insulation from the real world, will return next year.
The race attracted controversy – and the hashtag #yachtbanter – in 2017 when executives used the occasion to call for cuts to penalty rates, while in 2015 McGuire drew gasps from lunchers by saying that “you’ve got to love Australia, when all the Muslims are delivering the postage and parcels” in reference to Fahour.
KPMG’s spokeswoman said clients and crew would instead get a “scaled-back lunch” and it would be making a donation to bushfire support.
But Albanese does offer his view of why people are angry.
Albanese is asked to characterise the PM’s response to the crisis. He declines, saying he’s not a commentator and it’s his just to put forward practical suggestions.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese is speaking to the media now.
He reiterates his calls for national response to the bushfire crisis. He notes that the national security committee of cabinet will only meet on Monday.
NSW police have said a man has died at Belowra. He was unaccounted for and presumed dead, but they have now confirmed the tragic news.NSW police have said a man has died at Belowra. He was unaccounted for and presumed dead, but they have now confirmed the tragic news.
The police statement reads:The police statement reads:
More from Morrison on the anger from people he’s visited. Mitchell noted in the interview they have not only heckled him, but others have refused to shake his hand.More from Morrison on the anger from people he’s visited. Mitchell noted in the interview they have not only heckled him, but others have refused to shake his hand.
“I know people are angry and they will often fixate whether it’s a prime minister or someone else,” Morrison says.“I know people are angry and they will often fixate whether it’s a prime minister or someone else,” Morrison says.
“I understand that, I understand the emotion, I understand the hurt, the anger, the frustration. What we will do is just continue to use every resource and person we have to assist the situation.”“I understand that, I understand the emotion, I understand the hurt, the anger, the frustration. What we will do is just continue to use every resource and person we have to assist the situation.”
Mitchell asks Morrison about Andrew Constance’s comments saying the PM got the welcome “he probably deserved” when he was heckled and abused at Cobargo.Mitchell asks Morrison about Andrew Constance’s comments saying the PM got the welcome “he probably deserved” when he was heckled and abused at Cobargo.
“I haven’t seen those comments,” Morrison replies.“I haven’t seen those comments,” Morrison replies.
3AW’s Neil Mitchell turns to the angry reaction Morrison has received at fire grounds. Why are they angry, at you, Mitchell asks.3AW’s Neil Mitchell turns to the angry reaction Morrison has received at fire grounds. Why are they angry, at you, Mitchell asks.
“People are angry and people are upset,” Morrison says. “Whether they’re angry with me or or they’re angry about their situation, all I know is that they’re hurting, and it’s my job to try and offer some comfort and support.“People are angry and people are upset,” Morrison says. “Whether they’re angry with me or or they’re angry about their situation, all I know is that they’re hurting, and it’s my job to try and offer some comfort and support.
“That’s my job, I don’t take these things personally, why would I?”“That’s my job, I don’t take these things personally, why would I?”
More on the evacuation in Mallacoota. Gippsland Nationals MP Darren Chester has told the ABC that 25 people have been evacuated by Spartan aircraft.
Some have been questioning the involvement of the ADF this fire season. Or more specifically wondering why they haven’t been more prominently involved.
As the Defence Department has also been stressing, Morrison tells Mitchell “they are not new to the scene”. Their involvement has been “prolonged and sustained”, he says.
And he notes that Daniel Andrews has welcomed the cooperation between the state and federal authorities, which includes the military.
The prime minister Scott Morrison has just been on 3AW with Neil Mitchell. He will be touring East Gippsland today.
Asked if the current situation is the “new normal”, Morrison says “it’s a very important question ... but we have to understand that it’s on the back of a very severe drought”.
He also notes that “fires are different because of the prolonged nature of the season across the country”.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, is fronting the media and says that the number of people who are now unaccounted for has increased to 28.
The figure was 17 yesterday.
“We have grave fears for the safety and well beingof those 28 people who cannot be located,” he says.
“Having said that, though, these numbers will move around. A number of people who were part of the original 17 were located yesterday.”
Stay tuned.
The evacuations have begun at the isolated Victorian coastal town of Mallacoota. Authorities say 800 people will be relocated using the Navy vessel HMAS Choules. Others will be airlifted out of the town.
The emergency services minister is reportedly still not back in the job. He’s been on holidays in Europe.
His boss, the premier Gladys Berejiklian, declared a state of emergency in NSW yesterday.