Australian PM’s leadership criticized during wildfire crisis
5 years ago

Australian PM’s leadership criticized during wildfire crisis

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — As his country burned, Australia’s prime minister was cursed and jeered out of a town, called an “idiot,” a “moron” and worse, and skewered at home and abroad for his dismissive response toward climate change. The outpouring of frustration and rage from many Australians toward Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s lethargic wildfire response has been likened to the furious reaction of Americans toward President George W. Bush over his clumsy response to Hurricane Katrina. “I think it’s done lasting damage to his credibility as a leader that is going to hound him into the future,” said Sydney University political scientist Stewart Jackson. “What good is an economy in an uninhabitable country?” Morrison accepts that human-caused climate change has worsened Australia’s fire risk by extending wildfire seasons, increasing average temperatures and drying the landscape.

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History of this topic

Australian Authorities Warn Citizens of Horrific Bushfire Season
1 year, 3 months ago

Australian Authorities Warn Citizens of Horrific Bushfire Season

News 18  

Warm winds fanned multiple blazes on Wednesday in an unusually early start to Australia’s annual fire season, prompting a state leader to warn of a “horror” summer of bushfires ahead. “Be prepared for a horror summer,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told a news conference in Bega. “Bushfires love this environment and it is devastating for regional communities in …

Robert Glasser on Australia’s Turn to Climate Action
1 year, 11 months ago

Robert Glasser on Australia’s Turn to Climate Action

The Diplomat  

In the last few years, the costs and impacts of climate change have become unavoidably clear to Australians. face up to the challenge of climate change.” Sure enough, Australia’s federal election in May 2022 saw the incumbent Liberal/National Coalition – then led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison – fail to secure a fourth consecutive term. Across Australia, voters swung away …

Australia is unprepared for the health consequences of climate change: report
2 years, 2 months ago

Australia is unprepared for the health consequences of climate change: report

ABC  

Australia is unprepared for the health burden of climate change, and our lack of a national climate change and health adaptation plan has put Australians' lives at risk, according to a report. Key points: Almost all aspects of human health are declining due to climate change, according to reports Concurrent crises, such as geopolitical conflict and disease outbreaks, exacerbate climate …

Australia passes landmark climate change bill for net zero emissions by 2050
2 years, 4 months ago

Australia passes landmark climate change bill for net zero emissions by 2050

Firstpost  

The legislation, a key election promise of Australia’s new centre-left Labor government, aims to slash emissions in the carbon-intensive economy by 43 per cent from 2005 levels Sydney: Australia on Thursday passed its first major climate change bill in over a decade, codifying emissions targets and enshrining into its law for the first time a goal to reach net zero …

Reimagining Australia: The Hindu Editorial on Anthony Albanese’s Labor government
2 years, 7 months ago

Reimagining Australia: The Hindu Editorial on Anthony Albanese’s Labor government

The Hindu  

After nine years in the opposition, the Australian Labor Party, under the leadership of Anthony Albanese, is back in power. Even when the annual inflation number hit 5.1%, a 20-year high, the Morrison government took comfort in the argument that the unemployment rate was low. Mr. Morrison was also criticised for his inaction on climate challenges even after Australia witnessed …

PM-elect Anthony Albanese vows to repair Australia’s image overseas
2 years, 7 months ago

PM-elect Anthony Albanese vows to repair Australia’s image overseas

The Hindu  

Incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to end Australia’s reputation as a climate laggard and reset relations with the rest of the world Sunday, as he raced to form a government in time for a key Tokyo summit. “I want to change the way that politics operates in this country.” It is still unclear whether Albanese’s Labor Party will win …

Australia PM Morrison defends record despite election loss
2 years, 7 months ago

Australia PM Morrison defends record despite election loss

Associated Press  

SYDNEY — Scott Morrison said his conservative government had left Australia in a robust condition, even as voters on Saturday punished him for his handling of issues including climate change and the pandemic that helped return the center-left opposition to power for the first time in almost a decade. A former tourism marketer before switching to politics, Morrison was labeled …

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison concedes election defeat
2 years, 7 months ago

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison concedes election defeat

Firstpost  

Australians voted Saturday to end a decade of conservative rule. However, it is not yet clear if any party has secured a majority Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday admitted defeat in national elections after a “difficult night” for his conservative government. “Tonight I have spoken to the leader of the opposition and the incoming prime minister, Anthony Albanese, …

Australian election: Where is climate change on the agenda?
2 years, 7 months ago

Australian election: Where is climate change on the agenda?

Al Jazeera  

The majority of Australians want action on climate change, but you would not know that from the campaign for Saturday’s election. “Despite decades of warnings from scientists about climate change, Australia is unprepared for the supercharged weather that it is now driving,” said Hilary Bambrick, co-author of Australia’s annual assessment of progress on climate adaptation. “Australia is at the forefront …

Scott Morrison: Under-fire Australia PM says up to companies, not government, to tackle climate crisis
3 years, 1 month ago

Scott Morrison: Under-fire Australia PM says up to companies, not government, to tackle climate crisis

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Australian prime minister Scott Morrison on Saturday sought to shift the responsibility for tackling the …

Cop26: Climate crisis victims tell their stories
3 years, 2 months ago

Cop26: Climate crisis victims tell their stories

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “To see such destruction near the place that I grew up made the climate crisis much more real.” He …

Deputy Speaker warns PM not to blindside Nationals as climate talks heat up
3 years, 2 months ago

Deputy Speaker warns PM not to blindside Nationals as climate talks heat up

ABC  

The Deputy Speaker of Australia's House of Representatives has warned Prime Minister Scott Morrison not to blindside the Nationals party room in an effort to lock in a plan to cut carbon emissions. Key points: Llew O'Brien says he will not back any plan to cut carbon emissions unless it benefits his electorate He warned the PM against trying to …

Analysis: Australia’s climate policy is being dictated by a former accountant in a cowboy hat
3 years, 3 months ago

Analysis: Australia’s climate policy is being dictated by a former accountant in a cowboy hat

CNN  

CNN — Australia’s Prime Minister has all but confirmed he won’t join global leaders at crucial climate talks in Glasgow. “It’s talking to people in regional Australia, how the deputy prime minister and I believe our plan will help them in their communities, how our plan will help them realize their future.” With that remark, Morrison made it clear his …

Under Pressure to Adopt Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Target, Australian PM Says May Skip Climate Summit
3 years, 3 months ago

Under Pressure to Adopt Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Target, Australian PM Says May Skip Climate Summit

News 18  

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, under pressure to adopt a 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target, said in an interview published Monday that he may not join this year’s landmark UN climate summit in Glasgow. Asked about attending the global climate crisis conference in November, Morrison told the West Australian newspaper: “We have not made any final decisions”. Morrison’s government has …

Australia widely criticised over emission reduction targets ahead of COP26 climate talks
3 years, 4 months ago

Australia widely criticised over emission reduction targets ahead of COP26 climate talks

ABC  

This week has seen the UK, the US and others pile onto Australia's approach to climate change at a virtual conference on climate action. Ban Ki-moon put it bluntly: "Australia's current goal of a 26 to 28 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2030, and the absence of a national zero emissions target, is out of step with its …

As Australia's COVID crisis reaches boiling point, Morrison seems unable to articulate what's wrong with our lack of policy
3 years, 5 months ago

As Australia's COVID crisis reaches boiling point, Morrison seems unable to articulate what's wrong with our lack of policy

ABC  

Last Sunday, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, was asked a very simple question: Would he support any sort of target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050? In a week when the NSW Government unilaterally declared its COVID pandemic crisis a national emergency, and two other states were fighting to suppress outbreaks, and in a week where …

Morrison's foreign policy shift has been remarkable, but as the G7 Summit looms, Australia needs back-up
3 years, 6 months ago

Morrison's foreign policy shift has been remarkable, but as the G7 Summit looms, Australia needs back-up

ABC  

As Scott Morrison jets off for an actual, real-life, face-to-face gathering of world leaders at the G7 summit in Cornwall, he's completed a remarkable transformation in his foreign policy approach. The Prime Minister also wants the World Health Organisation strengthened, repeating his call for "enhanced surveillance and pandemic response powers", which so angered China last year. In standing up to …

Australia faces more fires, drought as climate continues to heat
4 years, 1 month ago

Australia faces more fires, drought as climate continues to heat

Al Jazeera  

Country’s weather bureau says higher temperatures and less rainfall creating conditions for more extreme weather events. Australia’s climate is expected become hotter and drier, increasing the risk of drought and extreme weather events such as the bushfires that devastated swathes of southeastern Australia in the last southern hemisphere summer, according to the latest climate report from the country’s weather bureau. …

Bushfire royal commission's final report issues warning to Australia over climate change
4 years, 2 months ago

Bushfire royal commission's final report issues warning to Australia over climate change

ABC  

The bushfire royal commission's final report is a stark warning of a future marked by extreme weather impacts of climate change. "Extreme weather has already become more frequent and intense because of climate change; further global warming over the next 20 to 30 years is inevitable," they say. "The Bushfire Royal Commission has laid out the facts in no uncertain …

Australia’s most senior former public servants and scientists reveal their anger about climate policy failure
4 years, 7 months ago

Australia’s most senior former public servants and scientists reveal their anger about climate policy failure

ABC  

For more than 30 years, Australian politics has been grappling with climate change and the nation's most senior public servants have been there through it all. Former secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Peter Shergold, former Treasury secretary Ken Henry, and former secretary of the Department of Climate Change Martin Parkinson. The first and last time Australia …

Scientists call on Australia to urgently reduce carbon emissions
4 years, 11 months ago

Scientists call on Australia to urgently reduce carbon emissions

India Today  

Australia needs to pull its weight when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to 274 of the country's leading climate, fire and weather scientists who penned an open letter to the nation's policy makers on Monday. "In many ways, this letter is the product of despair as scientists witnessed the deadly fire season unfold," Australian National University climate …

Australia state announces inquiry into catastrophic bush fires
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia state announces inquiry into catastrophic bush fires

Al Jazeera  

New South Wales’ six-month inquiry will look into the effect of climate change and how it responded to the emergency. New South Wales, the Australian state worst hit by this season’s enormous bushfires, has announced an independent inquiry into the continuing blazes, including the reasons why they started and the role that climate change may have played. The six-month inquiry …

Scott Morrison knows where his political weaknesses lie — but he won't give any ground
4 years, 11 months ago

Scott Morrison knows where his political weaknesses lie — but he won't give any ground

ABC  

It was billed as an opportunity for Scott Morrison to "reset" after a disastrous start to the political year. Instead, the Prime Minister's address to the National Press Club was more of a "double-down". While the details are yet to emerge, bilateral agreements with the states that focus on "keeping energy prices affordable, improving the reliability of the electricity grid …

Bushfire recovery package to tackle Australian tourism's 'biggest challenge in living memory'
4 years, 11 months ago

Bushfire recovery package to tackle Australian tourism's 'biggest challenge in living memory'

ABC  

The Federal Government has announced a $76 million recovery package in response to this summer's bushfires, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying Australian tourism is facing "its biggest challenge in living memory". Key points: The recovery package includes funding to attract domestic and international visitors While money has also been allocated for grants for "new attractions" in bushfire affected regions …

Australia fires: The town with no water in worst drought on record
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia fires: The town with no water in worst drought on record

CNN  

Murrurundi, Australia CNN — It’s 8 p.m. at the Royal Hotel in Murrurundi and the mercury is hovering at around 42 degrees Celsius. “Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of bushfire conditions in Australia and around the world,” according to the country’s Bureau of Meteorology. “It’s coal that has ensured for over 100 years that Australia has enjoyed …

Scott Morrison\'s popularity plunges after Australian bushfires
4 years, 11 months ago

Scott Morrison\'s popularity plunges after Australian bushfires

Deccan Chronicle  

Melbourne: A political poll showed Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s popularity declined sharply as his government grappled with a bushfires crisis that has killed 28 people and destroyed 2,000 homes. “We have heard the message loud and clear from the Australian people,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Monday, when asked about the poll result as he announced a A$50 million …

Australian prime minister’s approval rating singed by bushfires
4 years, 11 months ago

Australian prime minister’s approval rating singed by bushfires

Al Jazeera  

Scott Morrison has come under attack for being slow to respond to the crisis, even taking a holiday as Australia burned. A new poll shows the popularity of Australia‘s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declined sharply amid deepening anger at his government’s handling of the bushfires that have killed 28 people, razed more than 11 million hectares of land and …

Australia bushfire crisis: Prime Minister admits mistakes amid mounting criticism
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia bushfire crisis: Prime Minister admits mistakes amid mounting criticism

CNN  

CNN — Australia’s beleaguered prime minister, Scott Morrison, has admitted there were things he “could have handled much better” in the bushfire crisis and will propose a royal commission into the disaster. Wolter Peeters/The Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images “These are sensitive environments, they are very emotional environments,” said Morrison, adding that “prime ministers are flesh and blood too …

Scott Morrison says he shouldn't have gone to Hawaii, and other moments from the David Speers interview on the fires
4 years, 11 months ago

Scott Morrison says he shouldn't have gone to Hawaii, and other moments from the David Speers interview on the fires

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has addressed Australia's ongoing bushfire crisis and the Government's response in an extended sit-down interview with ABC Insiders host David Speers. Mr Morrison told Speers the bushfire zones "are sensitive, emotional environments" and that there are things on the ground he could have handled differently. When asked why he decided to holiday overseas instead of in …

Australia is burning. The Arctic is melting. Yet Trump keeps gutting climate change regulations.
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia is burning. The Arctic is melting. Yet Trump keeps gutting climate change regulations.

CNN  

CNN — Editor’s Note: A version of this story first published in September 2019. “Once we go beyond key tipping points – the melting of the major ice sheets – there is no going back.” Here’s a look at some of the most consequential climate policy rollbacks: Overhauling a landmark law requiring environmental assessments On January 9, the Trump administration …

Australians protest PM Scott Morrison’s climate policies amid bushfire crisis
4 years, 11 months ago

Australians protest PM Scott Morrison’s climate policies amid bushfire crisis

CNN  

CNN — Thousands of activists marched in several major citiesacross Australia on Friday, calling on the government to act on the climate crisis and do more to stop the bushfires that continue to ravage large swathes of the country. “The Morrison government needs to act before it’s too late, before we reach a tipping point, before these impacts get worse …

A continent on fire: on Australia wildfires
4 years, 11 months ago

A continent on fire: on Australia wildfires

The Hindu  

Australia’s catastrophic fire season that began in August last year is unprecedented, and has caused large scale destruction, mainly in New South Wales and Queensland. In a world set to warm at least half a degree more in coming decades, Australia’s encounters with devastating fires could become more frequent, perhaps even once in eight years, making large parts of the …

Scott Morrison: The ‘daggy dad’ burned by Australia’s fire crisis
5 years ago

Scott Morrison: The ‘daggy dad’ burned by Australia’s fire crisis

Al Jazeera  

Australians are angry at the prime minister’s handling of the crisis and failure to take action on climate change. Canberra, Australia – When Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrived in the bushfire-ravaged New South Wales town of Cobargo last week, locals were less than welcoming. “Tell the prime minister he can go and get f***ed!” Several homes and businesses were …

Scott Morrison meets bushfire victims on Kangaroo Island
5 years ago

Scott Morrison meets bushfire victims on Kangaroo Island

Daily Mail  

Scott Morrison has returned to the front line to meet with bushfire victims after he was snubbed by locals in one of Australia's worst hit areas last week. The Australian prime minister was on Kangaroo Island on Wednesday where he pledged to provide more support after an inferno ripped through the island, off the coast of South Australia, on Friday …

I'm doing what the Australian government won't – telling the truth about the climate crisis
5 years ago

I'm doing what the Australian government won't – telling the truth about the climate crisis

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This must have come as a …

Australia’s leaders unmoved on climate action after devastating bushfires
5 years ago

Australia’s leaders unmoved on climate action after devastating bushfires

The Hindu  

Australia's government is sticking firmly to a position that there is no direct link between climate change and the country's devastating bushfires, despite public anger, the anguish of victims and warnings from scientists. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Emissions Reduction Minister, Angus Taylor, say Australia does not need to cut carbon emissions more aggressively to limit global warming, even …

Craig Kelly and Piers Morgan in tense Good Morning Britain exchange over bushfires and climate change
5 years ago

Craig Kelly and Piers Morgan in tense Good Morning Britain exchange over bushfires and climate change

ABC  

Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly has defended his Government's handling of the bushfire crisis, during a combative UK television interview in which he argued the fires were caused by high fuel loads and not climate change. Key points: Piers Morgan blasted the Liberal backbencher on air, telling him to "wake up" Mr Kelly said the cause of the fires was the …

Storms bring relief — and danger — to Australian wildfire regions
5 years ago

Storms bring relief — and danger — to Australian wildfire regions

LA Times  

Thunderstorms and showers brought some relief for firefighters battling deadly wildfires across Australia’s drought-parched east coast on Wednesday, but also raised concerns that lightning will spark more fires before dangerous hot and windy conditions return. Around 2,300 firefighters in New South Wales state were making the most of relatively benign conditions by frantically consolidating containment lines around more than 110 …

As celebrities and people around the world follow the Australian bushfires, is our national reputation at risk?
5 years ago

As celebrities and people around the world follow the Australian bushfires, is our national reputation at risk?

ABC  

Some 4,600 kilometres across the pond, a humble Fijian coffee shop is urging its customers to "caffeinate generously". Australia's plight was again catapulted into the global consciousness when Russell Crowe used his Golden Globes acceptance speech to call for climate change action — a sentiment echoed by Australian actress Cate Blanchett, who labelled the bushfire crisis a "climate disaster". He …

Australia bushfire crisis: PM Morrison announces $2 billion for relief support
5 years ago

Australia bushfire crisis: PM Morrison announces $2 billion for relief support

The Hindu  

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced an additional 2 billion dollars over two years to a new agency to coordinate a national response to rebuild communities and livelihoods following the deadly bushfire crisis. “It’s a long road ahead and we will be with these communities every step of the way as they rebuild,” Morrison, who is facing widespread …

The bushfire crisis has given the Government a political 'out' to its climate change problem
5 years ago

The bushfire crisis has given the Government a political 'out' to its climate change problem

ABC  

The fires across Australia are taking a terrible toll. You need to lead It could be the turning point for Australia's climate change politics and policy that is so deeply in the ditch. The party of progress and social justice needs to stand for strong action on climate change, and for helping workers and communities in the transition that will …

Photos | Wildfire-weary Australians see no end to unprecedented calamity
5 years ago

Photos | Wildfire-weary Australians see no end to unprecedented calamity

LA Times  

Exhausted firefighters welcomed cooler weather and patchy rain in blaze-ravaged southeastern Australia Monday after a calamitous few days, even as authorities warn of a return to dangerous conditions later this week. With no end in sight to the months-long crisis, authorities are counting the cost after the weekend saw properties in small towns on the south coast of New South …

Here’s what Aus firefighters are telling their Prime Minister (Strong language)
5 years ago

Here’s what Aus firefighters are telling their Prime Minister (Strong language)

Deccan Chronicle  

Bateman’s Bay : Australian firefighters--from top brass to weary volunteers -- hit out at Prime Minister Scott Morrison's handling of the bushfire crisis Sunday, as strains from the months-long fight began to show. Firefighter Paul Parker, 57, whose sweary television tirade against Morrison has gone viral Down Under, told AFP he was "absolutely appalled" by the government in Canberra and …

NSW fires boss criticises Prime Minister Scott Morrison as blazes destroy 'hundreds' more homes
5 years ago

NSW fires boss criticises Prime Minister Scott Morrison as blazes destroy 'hundreds' more homes

ABC  

NSW's fire boss has criticised the Prime Minister, saying he was blindsided by the announcement 3,000 army reservists would be sent to help recovery efforts. Key points: The Rural Fire Service Commissioner said logistics around the extra resources would be complicated The RFS says "hundreds" more homes have been destroyed by blazes yesterday Four firefighters were taken to hospital, and …

Australia fires, climate change take center stage at the Golden Globes
5 years ago

Australia fires, climate change take center stage at the Golden Globes

LA Times  

At the Golden Globes, Cate Blanchett, from left, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Aniston and Pierce Brosnan. My heart goes out to everyone who is suffering in Australia … all the animals that we’ve lost.” Introducing his sons as this year’s Golden Globe ambassadors, actor Pierce Brosnan said, “Speaking of opening our hearts, all of us at the Golden Globes and the …

Made In Chelsea's Louise Thompson blasts the publicity around the Australian bush fires
5 years ago

Made In Chelsea's Louise Thompson blasts the publicity around the Australian bush fires

Daily Mail  

Louise Thompson took to her Instagram Stories to bemoan the sudden publicity around the Australian bush fires on Saturday. 'I genuinely think my policies would make me eligible for parliament': Louise Thompson took to her Instagram Stories to bemoan the sudden publicity around the Australian bush fires Louise penned: 'I find it extraordinary that people think that climate change is …

Q&A: How climate change, other factors stoke Australia fires
5 years ago

Q&A: How climate change, other factors stoke Australia fires

Associated Press  

Australia’s unprecedented wildfires are supercharged thanks to climate change, the type of trees catching fire and weather, experts say. Mike Flannigan, a fire scientist at the University of Alberta in Canada, said Australia’s fires are “an example of climate change.” A 2019 Australian government brief report on wildfires and climate change said, “Human-caused climate change has resulted in more dangerous …

Are the bushfires Scott Morrison's Hurricane Katrina moment that he can't live down?
5 years ago

Are the bushfires Scott Morrison's Hurricane Katrina moment that he can't live down?

ABC  

Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in US history. As people yell at the Prime Minister when he visits their devastated communities, or howl for his blood on social media, the story of Bush's failure to immediately recognise a catastrophe and the urgent need for leadership it represented tells us what problems are created by Scott Morrison's …

Australia wildfires: Firefighter who lost home refuses to shake prime minister Scott Morrison’s hand
5 years ago

Australia wildfires: Firefighter who lost home refuses to shake prime minister Scott Morrison’s hand

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A firefighter who lost his …

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