16 News

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.

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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