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| Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires insurance bill tops $700m – latest updates | Australia fires live: NSW and Victoria bushfires insurance bill tops $700m – latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rain falls on some NSW, Victorian and South Australian bushfire-affected areas, but worse fire conditions are forecast to return. Follow all today’s latest news and live updates | Rain falls on some NSW, Victorian and South Australian bushfire-affected areas, but worse fire conditions are forecast to return. Follow all today’s latest news and live updates |
| Andrew O’Dwyer, the NSW RFS volunteer who was killed when his truck overturned while fighting fires in the lead up to Christmas, has been laid to rest. | |
| Anyone who has insurance questions can contact 1800 734 621, for information on claims and recovery. | |
| Volunteer and professional firefighting organisations are coming together tomorrow, calling for a royal commission into the bushfires. | Volunteer and professional firefighting organisations are coming together tomorrow, calling for a royal commission into the bushfires. |
| The announcement will be made on Wednesday, and involves: | The announcement will be made on Wednesday, and involves: |
| Leighton Drury - state secretary, Fire Brigade Employees’ Union (NSW) | |
| John Oliver - state secretary, United Firefighters’ Union of Queensland | |
| Lea Anderson - state secretary, United Firefighters’ Union of Western Australia | |
| Max Adlam - state secretary, United Firefighters’ Union of South Australia | |
| Stewart Little - general secretary, Public Service Association of NSW | |
| Mick Holton - president, NSW Volunteer Fire Fighters Association | |
| This is in relation to the BBC interview Catherine King and Craig Kelly did on Saturday, where this exchange occurred between Kelly and the host – which is why Piers Morgan wanted to talk to Kelly on Good Morning Britain in the first place. | This is in relation to the BBC interview Catherine King and Craig Kelly did on Saturday, where this exchange occurred between Kelly and the host – which is why Piers Morgan wanted to talk to Kelly on Good Morning Britain in the first place. |
| Host: So just to be clear, Mr Kelly. I want to be clear in what you’re saying, you are saying there is no link between these fires in your view and global climate change? | Host: So just to be clear, Mr Kelly. I want to be clear in what you’re saying, you are saying there is no link between these fires in your view and global climate change? |
| Kelly: Well firstly there is no link, the facts that cause the fires are the drought and the drying of the environment and on this our climate scientists down here have been very clear and they have said that there is no link between drought and climate change. | Kelly: Well firstly there is no link, the facts that cause the fires are the drought and the drying of the environment and on this our climate scientists down here have been very clear and they have said that there is no link between drought and climate change. |
| We’re showcasing stories from the bushfires in our Full Story podcast, have you been affected? Or have you been helping those affected by the bushfires? We’d love to hear from you, give us a call on (02) 8076 8550 and leave us a voicemail.If you missed them we’ve already done two episodes on the fires, one with Murph on why Scott Morrison can’t talk about climate change and another with Lisa Cox discussing how the fire seasons have changed. | We’re showcasing stories from the bushfires in our Full Story podcast, have you been affected? Or have you been helping those affected by the bushfires? We’d love to hear from you, give us a call on (02) 8076 8550 and leave us a voicemail.If you missed them we’ve already done two episodes on the fires, one with Murph on why Scott Morrison can’t talk about climate change and another with Lisa Cox discussing how the fire seasons have changed. |
| Government ministers have come out against Craig Kelly’s comments this morning. | Government ministers have come out against Craig Kelly’s comments this morning. |
| From AAP: | From AAP: |
| Emergency management minister David Littleproud described his comments as a “sideshow”. | Emergency management minister David Littleproud described his comments as a “sideshow”. |
| “He doesn’t represent the views of the government”, Mr Littleproud told reporters on Tuesday. | “He doesn’t represent the views of the government”, Mr Littleproud told reporters on Tuesday. |
| “I couldn’t give a rats what he said, it’s irrelevant, let’s just focus on those people that are out there that need our help.” | “I couldn’t give a rats what he said, it’s irrelevant, let’s just focus on those people that are out there that need our help.” |
| Mr Kelly said the suggestion the government could have reduced the bushfires by bringing down carbon emissions was nonsense. | Mr Kelly said the suggestion the government could have reduced the bushfires by bringing down carbon emissions was nonsense. |
| Instead, he made disputed claims that fuel loads were largely to blame for the spread of the fires. | Instead, he made disputed claims that fuel loads were largely to blame for the spread of the fires. |
| Scientists have disputed claims a lack of hazard reduction burns have led to the size of the bushfires, with former fire chiefs blaming the effects of climate change. | Scientists have disputed claims a lack of hazard reduction burns have led to the size of the bushfires, with former fire chiefs blaming the effects of climate change. |
| Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also put Mr Kelly at arms length from the government. | Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also put Mr Kelly at arms length from the government. |
| “Our view of climate change is that it’s real. We accept the science”, Mr Frydenberg said. | “Our view of climate change is that it’s real. We accept the science”, Mr Frydenberg said. |
| While Mr Frydenberg said fuel loads had been a factor in the bushfires, he said climate change was causing hotter, drier summers. | While Mr Frydenberg said fuel loads had been a factor in the bushfires, he said climate change was causing hotter, drier summers. |
| NSW police have confirmed two people are unaccounted for south of Eden. | NSW police have confirmed two people are unaccounted for south of Eden. |
| Getting to some areas has been almost impossible because of the damage and potential danger from falling trees. | Getting to some areas has been almost impossible because of the damage and potential danger from falling trees. |
| On reports NSW police have taken action against 183 people for arson this bushfire period, is some context from deputy NSW police commissioner, Gary Worboys: | On reports NSW police have taken action against 183 people for arson this bushfire period, is some context from deputy NSW police commissioner, Gary Worboys: |
| On Monday, NSW police confirmed 24 people had been charged with deliberately lighting fires. | On Monday, NSW police confirmed 24 people had been charged with deliberately lighting fires. |
| NSW Emergency Services minister David Elliot on anyone ignoring the total fire ban in the state: | NSW Emergency Services minister David Elliot on anyone ignoring the total fire ban in the state: |
| This of course, after he went to Europe in the middle of the crisis. | This of course, after he went to Europe in the middle of the crisis. |
| The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) wants people to contact their doctor if they start to feel unwell because of the air pollution – not an ambulance (unless it is life threatening). | The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) wants people to contact their doctor if they start to feel unwell because of the air pollution – not an ambulance (unless it is life threatening). |
| From its statement: | From its statement: |
| RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon said people should turn to their GP in the first instance for non-life threatening health concerns. | RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon said people should turn to their GP in the first instance for non-life threatening health concerns. |
| Ambulance Victoria reportedly said there was a 51% increase in people calling for help for breathing problems on Monday, when the air quality in Melbourne deteriorated to “very poor”. | Ambulance Victoria reportedly said there was a 51% increase in people calling for help for breathing problems on Monday, when the air quality in Melbourne deteriorated to “very poor”. |
| NSW police are also getting very serious about looters: | NSW police are also getting very serious about looters: |
| The PMO tells us that Donald Trump called Scott Morrison a little earlier “to offer his support to Australia and all the bushfire-affected communities”. | The PMO tells us that Donald Trump called Scott Morrison a little earlier “to offer his support to Australia and all the bushfire-affected communities”. |
| “The prime minister thanked him and also thanked him for the support the US has already provided, specifically the US firefighters that have come out here. | “The prime minister thanked him and also thanked him for the support the US has already provided, specifically the US firefighters that have come out here. |
| “The prime minister also thanked the president for the support of the American people who have been sending their well-wishes to Australians at this time.” | “The prime minister also thanked the president for the support of the American people who have been sending their well-wishes to Australians at this time.” |
| The prime minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama, has also called Morrison today to offer Fiji’s support and condolences. | The prime minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama, has also called Morrison today to offer Fiji’s support and condolences. |
| The leaders of the UK, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were in touch yesterday, and there have also been offers of support from Singapore and New Zealand. | The leaders of the UK, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were in touch yesterday, and there have also been offers of support from Singapore and New Zealand. |
| In Victoria: | In Victoria: |
| Almost 450 buildings have been gutted in bushfires raging across eastern Victoria with cooler weather offering some reprieve and authorities refusing to rest on their laurels. | Almost 450 buildings have been gutted in bushfires raging across eastern Victoria with cooler weather offering some reprieve and authorities refusing to rest on their laurels. |
| Fourteen active fires are burning across the state on Tuesday after several joined up with more than 1.2m hectares in Victoria razed. | Fourteen active fires are burning across the state on Tuesday after several joined up with more than 1.2m hectares in Victoria razed. |
| All warnings are at a watch-and-act level or lower, with most of the active fires in East Gippsland and the state’s northeast. | All warnings are at a watch-and-act level or lower, with most of the active fires in East Gippsland and the state’s northeast. |
| (Via AAP) | (Via AAP) |
| Rod Sims says the ACCC is dealing with “numerous” reports of fundraising scams in relation to bushfire appeals. | Rod Sims says the ACCC is dealing with “numerous” reports of fundraising scams in relation to bushfire appeals. |
| “Some low life characters will take advantage of the fact that many people want to donate”, he told the ABC. | “Some low life characters will take advantage of the fact that many people want to donate”, he told the ABC. |
| “They want to donate quickly, and many are doing it for the first time. We have come across a range of different scams.” | “They want to donate quickly, and many are doing it for the first time. We have come across a range of different scams.” |
| Sims says the most common way of scamming people is the old cold call and text seeking donations, with social media campaigns also being roped in. | Sims says the most common way of scamming people is the old cold call and text seeking donations, with social media campaigns also being roped in. |
| “Thirdly, and perhaps the most egregious, people impersonating relatives of people who have died, perhaps on a Facebook page, saying join me and fund me, when it is fake.” | “Thirdly, and perhaps the most egregious, people impersonating relatives of people who have died, perhaps on a Facebook page, saying join me and fund me, when it is fake.” |
| Sims says the GoFund Me fundraisers “have a range of tools” to try and ensure fundraisers hosted on its site are legit. He suggest lodging any questionable donation requests to the SCAMwatch website. | Sims says the GoFund Me fundraisers “have a range of tools” to try and ensure fundraisers hosted on its site are legit. He suggest lodging any questionable donation requests to the SCAMwatch website. |
| But prosecutions can be tricky – under Australian law, you have to have misled people to be taken to the federal court. Sims says: | But prosecutions can be tricky – under Australian law, you have to have misled people to be taken to the federal court. Sims says: |