News from Australia and across Oceania

[AlbertC]

Australia fires: 'Not much left' of town ravaged by bushfire

The leader of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, says "catastrophic" fire conditions have almost completely razed one Australian community to the ground.

She said there was "not much left" of the town of Balmoral, south-west of Sydney, where about 400 people live.

Australia fires: 'Not much left' of town ravaged by bushfire

Residents are not yet allowed to return to Balmoral amid ongoing safety concerns over bushfires.

www.bbc.com

 

[SunriseChampion]

Have you guys seen these vids? They're brilliant! I wish someone would produce a Canadian version of this.

The ladies execute their parts so well.

"Cool and Normal!"

All vids are NSFW, unless you work at a normal human workplace like me that isn't beholden to stupid rules around propriety.

This one is particularly disturbing, but they're all amazing and disturbing. Australia is pretty corrupt if you go by these.

Enjoy! I laughed.

 

[SunriseChampion]

This one is a bit more a propos to the latest disasters in Australia.

 

[SunriseChampion]

One more for ya....I watched all 42 today. ?

 

[Videodrome]

The PM took a trip to Hawaii while the country was burning. Great decision!

 

[SunriseChampion]

Nah, one more....

 

[Videodrome]

Maybe time for another Lib spill?

 

[AlbertC]

Relief and anger in Balmoral, the bushfire village that ran out of water

The local fire captain says it’s a ‘miracle’ some homes were saved in the ground-zero village he says the NSW and federal governments abandoned

Helen Davidson
Mon 23 Dec 2019

Relief and anger in Balmoral, the bushfire village that ran out of water

The local fire captain says it’s a ‘miracle’ some homes were saved in the ground-zero village he says the NSW and federal governments abandoned

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Home affairs warned Australian government of growing climate disaster risk after May election

Exclusive: department’s brief said ‘coordinated national action’ was needed to ward off increasing disruptions

Home affairs warned Australian government of growing climate disaster risk after May election

Exclusive: department’s brief said ‘coordinated national action’ was needed to ward off increasing disruptions

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Mural mocking Scott Morrison for Hawaii holiday during bushfires painted over

Artist Scott Marsh says he finished the mural in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale on Tuesday, but by Friday it was gone

Australian Associated Press
Fri 27 Dec 2019 04.09 GMT

Mural mocking Scott Morrison for Hawaii holiday during bushfires painted over

Artist Scott Marsh says he finished the mural in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale on Tuesday, but by Friday it was gone

www.theguardian.com

 

[SunriseChampion]

Coal fondler in chief.

The PM took a trip to Hawaii while the country was burning. Great decision!

 

[AlbertC]

What happened? The policies Scott Morrison’s government appears to have abandoned

Action to protect LGBT students, a payday lending crackdown and an integrity commission are among the Coalition’s lost causes

Paul Karp, Amy Remeikis and Ben Butler
Sat 28 Dec 2019 05.42 GMT

What happened? The policies Scott Morrison's government appears to have abandoned | Australian politics | The Guardian

Action to protect LGBT students, a payday lending crackdown and an integrity commission are among the Coalition’s lost causes

amp.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Thousands of koalas feared dead in Australia wildfires

Fires have destroyed up to 30 per cent of their habitat, environment minister says

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-wildfires-koalas-1.5409811

 

[AlbertC]

Victoria bushfires: thousands told to evacuate vast east Gippsland fire threat zone

Visitors and residents told to ‘get out of’ an area half the size of Belgium immediately, in the face of historic fire threat day on Monday

Calla Wahlquist
Sun 29 Dec 2019 04.33 GMT

Thousands told to evacuate vast east Gippsland fire threat zone

Visitors and residents told to ‘get out of’ an area half the size of Belgium immediately, in the face of historic fire threat day on Monday

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Australia fires worsen as every state hits 40C

As the bushfires continue, mammoth blazes in Victoria are generating their own lightning.

www.bbc.com

Victoria bushfires: hellish wait for those who fled – and those who stayed

Many visitors and residents left homes and campsites in East Gippsland ahead of a terrifying fire day, but others ignored warnings and stayed behind

www.theguardian.com

One firefighter killed as bushfires rip through four Australian states

There are fears that many houses may have been lost on a horrific day in Victoria and Tasmania, with more extreme weather forecast for New Year’s Eve

www.theguardian.com