O75 Public Administration

Morrison doubles family aid payments

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Original article by Olivia Caisley
The Australian – Page: 4 : 16-Jan-20

The federal government has announced changes to its family assistance payments for bushfire victims. Families have already received a disaster recovery payment of $400 per child; Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated that they will shortly receive an additional $400 for each child, at a cost of $7.9m. The government will also relax the paperwork requirements of volunteer firefighters who claim compensation for loss of income while serving on the bushfires frontline.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

No more carbon cuts, PM warned

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 16-Jan-20

Some Coalition MPs say that the federal government must not make significant changes to its carbon emission reduction targets in response to the bushfires crisis. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated that the nation will exceed its 2030 target of reducing emissions by 26-28 per cent; he has also emphasised that a range of measures in response to climate change are needed, rather than simply reducing emissions. Former National Party leader Barnaby has called for the construction of nuclear power plants in Australia, as well as clean-coal power stations. Sources within the government have suggested that reviving the national energy guarantee policy is unlikely.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Survey reveals catastrophic damage to productive land

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Original article by Ean Higgins
The Australian – Page: 4 : 15-Jan-20

An analysis of satellite mapping data by Digital Agriculture Services has highlighted the impact of the bushfires crisis on the agricultural and forestry sectors. DAS has revealed that almost one million hectares of prime agricultural land in the bushfire zones have been burnt, as well as some 1.6 million hectares of logging forests and tree plantations. DAS also notes that the bushfires are largely in areas that have been hard hit by the drought. The analysis only covers bushfire zones in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

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DIGITAL AGRICULTURE SERVICES PTY LTD

State review not in conflict with PM’s

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 4 : 15-Jan-20

The Victorian government has advised that its bushfires inquiry will be headed by Tony Pearce, the state’s Inspector General for Emergency Management. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says this inquiry will have no impact on the federal government’s plans for a bushfires royal commission, stating that he had always expected the states to undertake their own bushfire reviews. Premier Daniel Andrews says he recently held talks with Morrison with regard to the proposed federal inquiry.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Recovery funds to hit budget

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Rosie Lewis, Patrick Commins, Ean Higgins
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 15-Jan-20

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that the Budget bottom line will be impacted by the federal government’s disaster relief measures. However, Morrison has stressed that his priority is to provide bushfire victims with the support they need, now and over the next several years. The government has announced an initial $100m funding package to support farmers, fishers and foresters who have been affected by the bushfires. Details of a $50m funding package for charities and financial counsellors to assist bushfire victims will be announced on 15 January.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence bounces to 107.3

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-Jan-20

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 1% to 107.3 in the week ended 12 January, recovering a bit more than half the loss seen in the prior survey. Current economic conditions gained 6.1% after a fall of 12.9% in the previous reading, while future economic conditions gained 8.6%. Current finances declined by 5.5%, dropping to its lowest level since June; future finances gained 0.6%, for a third consecutive increase. The four-week moving average of inflation expectations was down by 0.1ppt to 3.9%.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Greens call for climate emergency national stockpile

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Original article by Nick Bonyhady
The Age – Page: Online : 14-Jan-20

The Greens have called for a climate emergency national medical stockpile to address the health impacts of the current bushfires. The policy would see people in smoke-impacted areas have access to stockpiles of smoke-filtering masks, with Greens leader Richard Di Natale saying that the federal government’s current supply of masks was not enough to protect Australians. The federal government has stated it will make more masks available if the need arises, while Bunnings owner Wesfarmers reported recently that demand for face masks "had gone through the roof".

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AUSTRALIAN GREENS

‘A significant fight ahead’: Koalas could be listed as endangered in parts of Australia

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Original article by Angus Thompson, Nick Bonyhady
The Age – Page: Online : 14-Jan-20

Scientists believe that the bushfires in northern NSW have destroyed about 30 per cent of the region’s koala habitats. Koalas are already listed as a ‘vulnerable’ species in some parts of Australia, and Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley warns that the species may need to be upgraded to ‘endangered’ in some bushfire-affected areas. Ley has stressed that every effort will be made to ensure that the species survives. Half of the federal government’s $50m bushfire relief package for wildlife will be given to wildlife carers, hospitals and zoos.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Technology is the key to climate policy

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Original article by John Kehoe, Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 14-Jan-20

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated a slight shift in the federal government’s approach to climate change in the wake of the bushfires crisis. This follows community angst about the apparent link between climate change and the hotter and drier summer weather that contributed to the crisis. The government sees investments in low-emissions technology as the best way to cut carbon emissions and meet its 2030 carbon emissions targets, and it may not need to use Kyoto carryover credits to reach these targets.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Climate threatens ratings: Moody’s

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 14-Jan-20

A report from Moody’s Investors Service has concluded that the bushfire crisis will reduce GDP growth by less than 0.1 per cent. The ratings agency adds that the federal and state governments have sufficient fiscal buffers to cope with the current crisis, but it warns that an increase in climate change-related natural disasters in the future could negatively affect their credit ratings. Meanwhile, Anthony Walker of S&P says the federal government’s return to a Budget surplus may be delayed by the bushfire emergency, although he adds that this would be unlikely to have any effect on Australia’s credit rating.

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MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS