BUSHFIRES – AUSTRALIA

Many, many billions of animals feared to have died in bushfires

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Original article by Liam Mannix
The Age – Page: Online : 9-Jan-20

More than six million hectares of land have been razed by the bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales, and scientists have warned that the disaster has taken an enormous toll on wildlife. Professor Chris Dickman from the University of Sydney believes that up to 800 million animals may have perished in the NSW fires, compared with his initial estimate of 480 million. Experts have also warned that some endangered species may now be extinct, including the long-footed potoroo, whose last remaining habitat was in the fire zone.

CORPORATES
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Unions call for more government assistance for workers in fire-hit areas

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Age – Page: Online : 8-Jan-20

The federal government’s Disaster Recovery Allowance provides people who have been directly affected by the bushfires to receive up to 13 weeks of income support. However, the United Workers Union’s Helen Gibbons contends that this will be insufficient for many bushfire victims, adding that casual workers in particular will be hard hit by loss of income due to the fires. Retail & Fast Food Workers Union secretary Josh Cullinan notes that many casual workers are reluctant to stay at home despite feeling sick from smoke haze and heat from the bushfires.

CORPORATES
UNITED WORKERS UNION, RETAIL AND FAST FOOD WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED, ACTU, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Colvin promises bureaucracy won’t get in way of bushfire recovery effort

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Original article by Rob Harris
The Australian – Page: Online : 8-Jan-20

Andrew Colvin, the head of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, has stressed that its disaster relief strategy will be tailored to the unique needs of each community that has been affected by the fires. He adds that the NBRA will only be successful if it works closely with other agencies to ensure that affected communities receive the support they need. Colvin has also given assurances that the NBRA will seek to minimise bureaucratic hurdles for fire-affected communities.

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AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL BUSHFIRE RECOVERY AGENCY

Just 2km separates inferno in making

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale, David Ross
The Australian – Page: 5 : 8-Jan-20

The national death toll from Australia’s bushfire season stands at 24, after New South Wales police confirmed that two men who had been reported missing have been located. Some 60 fires remain out of control in NSW, while 14 fires are still burning in Victoria. There is concern that separate fires near Corryong in Victoria and in southern New South Wales could merge to form a ‘mega-blaze’, particularly with hot weather forecast for later in the week. Meanwhile, 672 homes in NSW have been destroyed in bushfires so far in 2020, and 1,588 have been lost since the bushfire season began.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Bushfire claims could double

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Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian – Page: 13 & 14 : 8-Jan-20

The insurance industry has received some $700m worth of bushfire-related claims since September, according to data from the Insurance Council of Australia. More than 3,700 claims have been submitted to Insurance Australia Group to date, and CEO Peter Harmer says this figure could rise significantly in coming months. Harmer is among the insurance industry executives who met with federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on 7 January to discuss the need for a nationally co-ordinated response to the bushfire crisis. He has described the talks as "very constructive".

CORPORATES
INSURANCE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, QBE INSURANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX QBE

NAB pledges 3-year disaster reprieve

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Original article by Elouise Fowler
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 8-Jan-20

National Australia Bank has increased its bushfire disaster relief fund to $4m and advised that customers who have been affected by the catastrophe will be given three years to repay their loans. NAB has also indicated that it will provide emergency grants to business and agriculture customers, in addition to retail customers. The Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and ANZ Bank will also provide loan relief to customers who have been affected by the bushfires.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Galleries grapple with climate change and unprecedented closures

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Original article by Broede Carmody
The Age – Page: Online : 7-Jan-20

Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia will re-open on 7 January, after smoke from the bushfires forced its closure two days earlier. NGA director Nick Mitzevich says the move was necessary to protect staff, visitors and the art museum’s collections, noting that airborne particles from the bushfires could potentially cause damage to artworks such as paintings over many years. Mitzevich says the loss of revenue due to the two-day closure will be ‘material’, but he adds that this is insignificant compared with the scale of the bushfire disaster.

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NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA

Health impacts of bushfires won’t be known for years, experts say

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Original article by Dana McCauley
The Age – Page: Online : 7-Jan-20

The bushfire smoke that has shrouded major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra has raised concerns about the long-term health impact of the disaster. Professor Bin Jalaludin from the University of New South Wales says research shows that all parts of the body are affected by air pollution, noting that it can trigger neurological conditions. He adds that people with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure may be at greater risk of a heart attack due to exposure to air pollution.

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UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

PM’s $2bn recovery vow

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Original article by Ben Packham, Olivia Caisley
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-Jan-20

The federal government will provide the National Bushfire Recovery Agency with initial funding of $2bn, which will be used to support communities that have been devastated by the bushfires. The funding will be used to rebuild critical infrastructure, provide grants to small businesses and farmers, and to offer mental health support for people who have been affected by the disaster. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has emphasised that recovering from the bushfires is a greater priority for the government than a Budget surplus. He adds that the government’s climate change policies will not be reviewed as a result of the disaster.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

More hazard-reduction burns not the answer, experts warn

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Original article by Mike Foley
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 7-Jan-20

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the issue of hazard management in national parks will be on the agenda for the next Council of Australian Governments meeting in March. Morrison has called for more emphasis on hazard-reduction burns in response to the bushfire crisis. Associate Professor Philip Zylstra from the University of Wollongong argues that more prescribed burning has been undertaken in the last decade than in many years. He adds that a large increase in hazard reduction burns would heighten fire risks and affect air quality in cities and towns during the winter months.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG