Month: December 2019

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