Category: Australian News

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.

Government employees fighting this season’s devastating bushfires will have their paid volunteer leave allowance boosted.
The Prime Minister and Minister for the Public Service said he had directed all Commonwealth public service leaders to permanently offer at least 20 working days paid leave, or 28 calendar days, for volunteers aiding with firefighting efforts. And for additional leave to then be provided as when needed.
“We’re helping get more boots on the ground and giving people who’ve been out there for weeks some relief,” the Prime Minister said.
“With bushfire seasons starting earlier, one of the things I’ve heard on the ground is that some people are dipping into their other leave entitlements to stay out there battling blazes. Today’s announcement is about ensuring our volunteer firefighters can keep focused on the job at hand.
“We’ve also already deployed our Defence Forces to assist with logistics, fire mapping and even meals and accommodation, already nearly $23 million in disaster recovery payments has flowed to affected families and businesses with more to come, and we’ve boosted our support for waterbombing planes and helicopters by $11 million.
“My Ministers and I are 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.”
The change to volunteer leave entitlements for Commonwealth public servants brings those contracts into line with the arrangements offered for Australian Defence Force reservists.
“We’ll do everything in our power to ensure these fireys have the resources and support they need,” the Prime Minister said.
“Once again I’d also like to thank the many businesses – small and large – and the state and territory bureaucracies who have been so generous giving time off to our volunteer fireys.
“We call on other large employers to follow our lead and we commend those who have already put in place more generous volunteer leave arrangements. We know this does not address the situation for self-employed and small businesses directly, but it does mean those working for larger organisations can step in and take some of the load from those volunteers who work for themselves or small businesses.
“This comes on top of existing Commonwealth disaster relief support, both direct and through the states, supporting families, businesses and primary producers impacted by the fires.
“The current contracts for our Commonwealth employees have ad hoc volunteer leave entitlements but this direction brings that up to a consistent standard and one that we offer ADF reservists.
“Our brigades in metro areas are working right across the fire fronts in non-metro areas and this will give them greater capability to deploy and meet the demand and provide relief to some of those very tired firefighters.”

On the eve of Christmas the Morrison Government has quietly revealed more than 110,000 older Australians are still waiting for aged care services at home.
It is completely unacceptable that in a wealthy country like Australia so many older vulnerable people can’t get the aged care they need.
These figures underscore how woefully inadequate Scott Morrison’s response was to his own Royal Commission’s interim report – particularly when it comes to the home care crisis.
Even with the Government’s additional home care packages announced last month there will still be more than 100,000 older Australians waiting for care they have been approved for but are not receiving.
The figures the Government has released late and just prior to Christmas, on the home care crisis, are damning.
Some older Australians are still waiting more than two years for home care.
Recent figures revealed almost 20,000 older Australians were forced into residential aged care when they wanted to receive care at home.
In the last year (2017/18) for which figures were available 16,000 older Australians sadly died while waiting for home care.
The Liberals have been asleep at the wheel for six years, with four Ministers and billions ripped out while Australia’s aged care system has lurched from one crisis to another.
Scott Morrison and the Government must do better to ensure older Australians get the quality aged care services they deserve now – older Australians and their loved ones cannot afford to wait any longer.

Payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child are now available to those worst-hit by the bushfires in the local government areas of Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Singleton.
Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment would help to provide dignity for those who had suffered a catastrophic loss.
“This is for people whose home has been severely damaged or destroyed, who’ve been seriously injured or who’ve lost a family member,” Minister Littleproud said.
“It’s going to take time for life to return to normal and we’ll be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with these communities until they’re back on their feet.
“This will help to cover the immediate needs of those worst hit, and help them get through the coming days.
“We will make further assistance available to these communities if it is needed.
“Anyone who may meet the criteria should call the Department of Human Services to check their eligibility.”
The Australian Government assistance announced today is over and above the support already being provided for under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Claims will be open from Monday 23 December 2019. For more information or to make a claim visit www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster or call 180 22 66. More information on Australian Government disaster assistance is available at www.disasterassist.gov.au.

I express my sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the firefighters who have so tragically been killed overnight.
They were bravely defending their communities with an unmatched spirit and a dedication that will forever set them apart amongst our most courageous Australians.
Their sacrifice and service saving lives and saving properties will be forever remembered. I wish those injured all the best in their recovery.
Our hearts go out to their families, friends and colleagues who have been working tirelessly beside them, particularly during this Christmas period.
These fires and heat conditions are horrendous, and there are still difficult days ahead, with Saturday predicted to be the most severe day, with extreme temperatures and wind making conditions very difficult for fire crews.
We wish all of those putting themselves in harm’s way for all of us, all the best. Stay safe, stay together.
Know that Australians are deeply grateful. To Australians living in fire-ravaged regions, please heed the warnings of the authorities, and stay safe.
Given these most recent tragic events, I will be returning to Sydney from leave as soon as can be arranged.
The Federal Government stands ready to deploy whatever further assistance State and Territory authorities request to manage this disaster.

Greens Senator Janet Rice has slammed the government’s failure to act as farmers suffer the effects of the climate emergency, following a damning report released today from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

The report found that the climate crisis has sunk Australian farms’ average annual profits by 22% and that crop farmers have been hit the hardest, losing $1.1bn in revenue a year since 2000.

Senator Janet Rice, Greens spokesperson for Agriculture and Regional Affairs said:

“This is the cost of our climate crisis. It’s unacceptable that Australian farmers are losing around $18,600 per farm and yet the government is still failing to act on the climate emergency that’s causing this loss.

“Farmers and rural Australians are on the frontline of the climate crisis and this drought is devastating families and leaving communities to perish.

“Instead of helping regional communities and farmers, the coal-hugging Liberal-National Coalition have lifted pollution and done everything in their power to make global heating worse.

“The LNP seem more interested in cosying up to their coal, oil and gas lobby mates than they are in supporting farmers.

“The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that drier than average weather will continue, so we must ensure farmers have what they need to adapt.

“The Morrison government can’t just throw money at the problem as a bandaid during times of crisis. This is an ongoing crisis, made worse by the government’s failure to address the root cause of drought, fund long-term drought resilience programs, and take urgent climate action.

“It is only by cutting pollution that we can reduce the impact of droughts and alleviate the effect on farmers.”