Category: Australian News

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.

• Additional council areas in Southern NSW to access Federal-State community recovery funding bringing the total support to more than $80 million.
• Recovery grants of up to $15,000 for farmers and small businesses
• Funding for additional mental health support and local led economic and community resilience initiatives

Community recovery assistance has been extended for bushfire-hit communities in the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Shoalhaven, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys and Mid-Western council areas.
Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said up to $18.1 million in new money has been made available to extend community recovery assistance under the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
“This will give farmers and small businesses recovery grants of up to $15,000,” Minister Littleproud said.
“The money will help farmers and small businesses clean-up, repair damages and replace stock.
“Getting back to business is one of the best ways to recover.
“These recovery grants will help businesses reopen so people can get back to work sooner.
“When money flows around a community it can help to speed up the whole recovery.
“Mental health services will get a $4.5 million boost so they can support communities, volunteers and emergency services staff in these areas.
“This takes the total assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to more than $80 million.
“The Federal Government will stand by these communities until they’re back on their feet and will make further assistance available as it is needed.”
Acting NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services Anthony Roberts said that there is a broad range of assistance available to bushfire affected communities.
“There is support for people who are suffering personal hardship; help for people whose homes have been damaged; and funding for firefighting operations and to restore damaged essential public assets,” Mr Roberts said.
“Importantly, the NSW and Commonwealth governments are not only committed to helping affected communities with their recovery but also making them more resilient to future disasters.
“That’s why we’ve allocated funding to support these communities by extending the NSW Bushfires Economic Recovery and Community Resilience Grants Program.
“If we need to extend these community recovery measures to other areas we will do so.”
The community recovery assistance program is being jointly funded by the Commonwealth and NSW governments through the DRFA.
To apply for a recovery grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444.

The bushfires devastating communities across regional New South Wales and Victoria require an emergency response from the Government that not only addresses the fires currently burning but also tackles the root cause of those fires and the fires yet to come – the climate crisis, driven by the burning of fossil fuels like coal – said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“It’s tragic that on the first day of the New Year some people will be grieving the loss of loved ones, have family and friends missing or waking up homeless. Our hearts go out to those who have lost their lives and property in this latest tragedy and for the huge ecological damage and loss of native and domestic animals. There are no adequate words to describe the loss that many people in regional communities right around Australia are experiencing today,” Di Natale said.
“This is a moment of truth for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is failing in his basic duty to keep our citizens safe from harm.  His totally inadequate response to these fires and his obstinate refusal to accept what we have known for decades: that burning climate changing fossil fuels would lead to more frequent and intense bushfires is putting the lives of Australians at risk.”
“What is absolutely crystal clear is that we are in an emergency and it’s time that the Prime Minister accepted that fact. He should immediately convene an emergency summit, as proposed by former-Fire Chief Mullins, to ensure that everything is being done to address the immediate crisis.”
“We must also accept that Australia’s climate has changed and we need to make sure that our land management, disaster response and climate policies are relevant to the new reality we face.
“That is why the Greens are calling on the Prime Minister to immediately declare a Royal Commission into the bushfire crisis. If he refuses to do so, we will be moving for a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry with Royal Commision-like powers as soon as Parliament returns.”
“While we need a national response to the bushfire crisis, any process that does not have at its heart a commitment to phase out fossil fuels like coal and rapidly transition to a renewable energy economy is doomed to fail from the start.”
“We need to anticipate and prepare for these emergencies, but we also need to go to the root cause which is the burning of fossil fuels that is dangerously heating our planet. The Morrison Government has their heads in the sand and Labor still won’t  take a stand on the mining, burning and export of coal that is fueling these fires.”
”We are in a climate emergency and we again call on the government to act immediately by:

1. Phasing out coal, oil and methane gas to ensure pollution reduction targets are consistent with science.
2. Supporting the rapid transition to a renewable energy economy that will produce tens of thousands of new jobs
3. Commit to convening an emergency summit and investing significantly to ensure we have all the available resources for the current emergency.
4. Calling a Royal Commission to address all elements of these fires, from land management and national disaster responses to climate change and mitigation.

–
In the lead up to the Federal election, and in the aftermath of devastating bush fires in Tasmania and floods in Queensland, the Greens called for a major investment to create a National Disaster Response Unit with the capacity to respond to emergencies like the fires we are seeing now in NSW and Queensland. The Unit would consist of rapid response aircraft and vehicles, and up to 200 people trained in all aspects of disaster response from remote area fire-fighting to flood rescue.
National Disaster Response Unit policy announcement

Last night we tragically lost another volunteer firefighter, in terrible circumstances in Jingellic, New South Wales.
Sam McPaul was a brave firefighter and a member of the Morven Rural Fire Brigade.
In one of the cruellest developments, Sam and his wife Megan are due to have their first baby next year.
I cannot imagine the terrible sense of loss and grief that Sam’s family are now feeling.
I have spoken to Megan to extend my deepest sympathies and our love and support at this terrible time and express that same sentiment on behalf of the entire country. Sam McPaul was the best of us.
This is devastating news and I also extend my sincere condolences to his entire family, friends and fellow brigade members.
It is an unimaginable loss and one felt by the entire country.
A further three firefighters were injured in the same incident, one severely.
Our thoughts are with these brave firefighters and their families in this difficult time. We wish those in hospital a fast and full recovery.
The firefighters were working on the Green Valley, Talmalmo Fire, approximately 70km east of Albury when extreme winds flipped their truck and a second vehicle.
They were doing what thousands of other volunteer firefighters are doing around Australia, and have been doing for months – selflessly and bravely protecting their local communities. For that, the nation is incredibly grateful.
The devastating impact of these terrible bushfires is continuing. This week, fires in South Australia and Tasmania, brutal fires in Victoria and, of course, the fires rolling on in New South Wales, many at emergency levels.
As these fires continue to rage, the response continues to be run and well-led at a state level. We will continue to provide every support to those state firefighting agencies through the Commonwealth.
In particular, through the support of the Australian Defence Force. These are well-resourced, well-coordinated, well-responded to fires.
I thank all of those who are directly involved out there on the fire grounds and the teams supporting them behind the scenes.
This will continue to be a significant effort in the days and the weeks ahead and I fear, in the months to come.
We are expecting more difficult news out of New South Wales and Victoria today as the assessments are undertaken of the terrible fires from yesterday and last night.
I am closely monitoring the situation in all states and I am receiving regular daily briefing on all emerging issues. I am also in regular contact with the premiers and fire authorities.
I have seen the impact and devastation of these fires first hand, but I have also seen communities pulling together and caring for each other with a remarkable spirit. This is the Australian way.
We have stood up and responded to these terrible disasters before and we have come through the other side. We will rebuild and we will stay strong.
I urge all Australians to continue to listen to the warnings from the authorities and take care.
To those fighting these fires; please be safe, and continue to pull together in this difficult time. Your country is behind you every step of the way.

Investigations are continuing after an RFS volunteer firefighter died and a two were injured when their fire truck rolled, while on-duty at a fire in the state’s south.
About 5.50pm yesterday (Monday 30 December 2019), police received reports a NSW Rural Fire Service truck with three men on board had rolled on a property at River Road, Jingellic, about 110km east of Albury.
A passenger, believed to be a 28-year-old man, died at the scene.
A second passenger, a 39-year-old man, was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne in a serious condition suffering burns.
The driver, aged 52, was treated at the scene before being taken to Holbrook Hospital for minor injuries and has since been released.
It’s believed the two passengers were firefighting from the refuge area behind the main cabin when the vehicle rolled.
Officers from Murray River Police District attended and established a crime scene, which was examined by specialist forensic officers.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner and inquiries continue.

Today we have once again witnessed Mr Morrison stall and offer no plan to financially help exhausted volunteer fire fighters.
Even his own senior ministers are finally voicing their concerns.
Enough.
We are talking about people’s livelihoods.
I have met people who are struggling to make ends meet while they work around the clock to serve their communities.
I have met people that have taken out loans to pay for the basic essentials of life.
It has now been well over a month since I wrote to the Prime Minister asking to work with him to act on this issue.
He dismissed me.
He has repeatedly refused to act on this issue when it has been raised with him.
He has said it was a “distraction.”
He has said it was a “state issue.”
He has said volunteer firefighters “want to be out there.”
Our firefighters have to pay bills and put food on the table for their families.
No firefighter should have to choose between continuing to serve their community with courage and distinction and being able to provide the essentials of life.
There is a precedent for providing support for volunteer firefighters.
This issue was urgent when Labor called on the Prime Minister to act in mid-November.  With fires raging across the country and predictions there’s worse to come it is now more urgent than ever.
Mr Morrison has consistently underestimated the scale of this year’s bushfire crisis and has repeatedly asserted that resources are adequate.
So far this bushfire season, the Prime Minister has:

1. Refused to meet with ex-fire chiefs, who wanted to warn him about the dangerous conditions we now face
2. Rejected concerns about fatigue among our volunteer firefighters, saying “they want to be there”.
3. Refused to provide any kind of compensation to exhausted volunteer fire fighters.
4. Said there will be no changes to climate change policy.
5. Ignored warnings from his own Department of Home Affairs that bushfires in Australia would be worse due to climate change and national action was required
6. Dismissed Labor’s suggestion to hold an urgent COAG meeting to ensure Australia was prepared for future bushfires and other natural disasters

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will increase its support to fire authorities, deploying additional specialist personnel to advise Incident Controllers at Fire Control Centres in New South Wales.
Planning will also begin for the recovery effort to access and clean-up affected areas, which could involve support from the ADF, if requested by NSW state authorities.
“This deployment will see Defence Liaison Officers positioned at all 14 Incident Control Centres in New South Wales with a list of equipment and support that can be made available. This will include bulldozers, bulk water carriers and troops,” the Prime Minister said.
“We’ll continue to do everything in our power to ensure our fireys have the resources and support they need.
“We’ve already got our Defence Forces providing helicopter search and rescue, ground transport, accommodation, meals and re-fuelling. We’ve boosted our support for water bombing planes and helicopters by $11 million.
“Disaster recovery payments of $23 million have also flowed to affected families and businesses with more to come.
“My Ministers and I remain in constant contact with our state and territory counterparts and fire chiefs and we stand ready to deliver whatever extra help they ask of us.”
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC said enhancing its liaison network will enable the ADF to continue providing extensive support to State emergency services.
“These additional liaison staff will embed with Fire Control Centres across NSW to advise their NSW Rural Fire Service counterparts and help coordinate ADF logistical and engineering support,” Minister Reynolds said.
“All three services of the ADF continue to provide significant behind the scenes support to firefighting efforts across the nation, including aerial fire reconnaissance; helicopter search and rescue; logistical support such as ground transport; providing meals for exhausted firefighters; as well as basing, re-fuelling, water re-supply, loading fire retardant and air traffic management for firefighting aircraft.
“Navy helicopters have helped with evacuating residents from their homes, Army crews have provided assistance with clearing fire breaks, while our Air Force bases are supporting the state Large Aerial Tanker fleet.
“This behind the scenes support from the ADF frees up more of our firefighters to perform their specialised roles fighting the fires.”
Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, the Hon. David Littleproud MP offered his congratulations.
“This is another great example of how the bushfire response has been coordinated between all levels of Government,” Minister Littleproud said.
“They’ll be wearing two different uniforms but have one objective, protecting Australians and their property.”
The Federal Government stands ready to deploy whatever further assistance State and Territory authorities request to manage this disaster.
Details of ADF’s support to the firefighting effort is updated daily here: https://news.defence.gov.au/national/defence-continues-bushfire-support

Labor welcomes Scott Morrison’s decision to provide additional support for volunteer firefighters on the frontline – something he has repeatedly claimed is unnecessary.
It’s good that federal public servants will receive the same conditions currently enjoyed by Army reservists, but many volunteer firefighters will not be assisted by this decision.
Many private sector workers, self-employed workers, contractors and family business owners have been fighting fires, not just for days or weeks, but for months.
These firefighters have to pay bills and put food on the table for their families. No firefighter should have to choose between continuing to serve their community with courage and distinction and being able to provide the essentials of life.
There is a precedent for providing support for volunteer firefighters. The Keating Government did it in 1994.
Firefighters deserve our respect. They also deserve our support.
This issue was urgent when Labor called on the Prime Minister to act in mid-November.  With fires raging across the country it is now more urgent than ever.
Mr Morrison has consistently underestimated the scale of this year’s bushfire crisis and has repeatedly asserted that resources are adequate.
He has refused to bring forward a meeting of state and territory leaders. He has also refused to review his Government’s inadequate climate policies.
Clearly there is more to be done and we urge the Prime Minister to investigate all options as this national crisis deepens with more dangerous weeks ahead.