BUSHFIRES – AUSTRALIA

Bushfires affect habitat of more than 100 threatened species, department estimates

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Original article by Mike Foley
The Age – Page: Online : 21-Jan-20

The federal Department of the Environment has released an initial analysis of the impact of the bushfires on the habitat of threatened species. It shows that more than 80 per cent of the known habitat of 49 listed species was within bushfire zones, as well as at least 50 per cent of the habitat of another 65 listed species. Professor Glenda Wardle from the University of Sydney warns that some threatened species will be even more at risk due to the bushfires, while the status of some species is likely to be upgraded to threatened. She adds that the majority of threated species that were hit by bushfires are plants rather than wildlife.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

$4.5b up in flames as visitors cancel

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Original article by Fiona Carruthers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 17-Jan-20

The Australian Tourism Export Council has advised that 70 per cent of its members have received cancellations because of the bushfires, for trips ranging between $5,000 and $500,000. The decline in overseas visitors booking holidays to Australia is expected to cost the economy at least $4.5 billion by the end of 2020. Tourism Australia has withdrawn its $15 million ‘Matesong’ campaign from the UK market as a result of the bushfires, but ATEC MD Peter Shelley says the federal government needs to fund a new global campaign to promote Australia once the fires subside.

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AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXPORT COUNCIL LIMITED,{SPAC}TOURISM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Fears PM’s carbon credit projects gone to blazes

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 17-Jan-20

The Department of the Environment & Energy has indicated that it is too soon to determine whether the bushfires crisis has had any impact on projects that have been backed by the federal government’s Emissions Reduction Fund. It also says most of the fires have been in regions that do not have ERF projects, although analysis shows that many such projects are either in or close to fire-affected areas. The Clean Energy Regulator is undertaking a review of the effects of the bushfires on ERF projects.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY,{SPAC}EMISSIONS REDUCTION FUND,{SPAC}AUSTRALIA. CLEAN ENERGY REGULATOR

NSW will follow ‘experts’, not Morrison: Premier

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 16-Jan-20

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has reiterated that the state will undertake its own review of the bushfire season. However, she adds that it will be open to participating in the federal government’s proposed royal commission. Berejiklian has also stressed that the state’s policy on hazard reduction burns is based on advice from experts rather than politicians. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has suggested that a federal inquiry could look at issues such as state governments’ preparedness for the bushfire season, including hazard reduction burns.

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NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED FIREFIGHTERS’ UNION OF AUSTRALIA

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

Kenny rejects Murdoch climate coverage attack

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 16-Jan-20

News Corporation’s climate coverage continues to attract scrutiny following criticism by James Murdoch, a director of the global company and the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. However, News Corp Australia commentator Chris Kenny contends that News Corp is one of the few media organisations that provide "fact-based, varied and realistic debate" on the issue. He adds that global coverage of climate change tends to be dominated by "alarmist and hysterical views". Former News Corp Australia employee Emily Townsend recently alleged that the company has engaged in a misinformation campaign to divert attention from climate change during the bushfires crisis.

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NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SKY NEWS, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED

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

James Murdoch criticises father’s news outlets for climate crisis denial

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Original article by Jim Waterson
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 15-Jan-20

The climate coverage of News Corp Australia’s newspapers has come under scrutiny in the wake of the bushfires crisis. James Murdoch and his wife Kathryn have issued a joint statement in which they criticise the media group’s continued climate change denial stance. Murdoch is a director of parent company News Corporation, and he stepped down as CEO of 21st Century Fox when it was sold to Walt Disney Company. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch told shareholders at New Corp’s 2019 AGM that there are no climate change deniers at the company.

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NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOX NEWS, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, WALT DISNEY COMPANY

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.

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