Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has called on the federal government to use every resource available to it as the bushfire crisis continues to devastate Australia’s east coast.
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Speaking to reporters ahead of a speech in Bob Hawke’s honour, the Labor leader again criticised Scott Morrison for failing to convene a COAG and develop a national response to what he has labelled a “national emergency”. The Labour leader also criticised the City of Sydney's decision to hold its annual New Year's Eve fireworks display, saying it is "problematic" that the event is going to go ahead.
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Three feared dead, thousands trapped amid escalating bushfire crisis | Sky News AustraliaMore than 4000 people are trapped on Mallacoota Beach in Victoria’s East Gippsland region as they attempt to escape the rapidly escalating bushfire crisis by boat. \n\nAuthorities said on Tuesday four people were unaccounted for in Victoria and three were feared dead in New South Wales. \n\nIn NSW, volunteer firefighter Sam McPaul, 28, died while fighting a bushfire at Green Valley near Albury in the state’s south on Monday night. \n\nCrews on the ground said a “fire tornado” flipped his truck on its roof, killing him instantly and injuring two other firefighters who were treated for burn injuries in hospital. \n\nFire authorities said the 28-year-old was a newlywed and his wife was pregnant with their first child when he died. \n\nMeanwhile in Victoria, authorities believe dozens of homes have been lost. \n\nVictorian Premier Daniel Andrews called Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday to request the Australian Defence Force be deployed to assist with efforts on the ground. \n\nPremier Andrews requested the ADF help to evacuate people stranded in high danger areas and supply water and food to those seeking shelter. \n\n\nImage: Alastair Prior\u002F alastairprior\n
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Clover Moore defends New Year's Eve fireworks amid bushfire crisisShe said the bushfire crisis must be 'a wake-up call' for state and federal governments to act on climate change.
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Property feared lost in Tasmania bushfires | Sky News AustraliaTasmanian authorities fear properties may have been damaged or destroyed in two separate bushfires currently burning in the state. \n\nBlazes at Pelham in the Upper Derwent Valley and near Fingal in the state's northeast sparked several emergency warnings on Monday, but were downgraded after a cool change and rain crossed the island.\n\nCrews are preparing to carry out aerial patrols on Tuesday to see whether dry lightning strikes sparked more fires overnight. \n\nHobart saw its hottest December day on Monday with the mercury reaching 40.8 degrees.\n\nImage: Getty
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Volunteer firefighter dies in 'fire tornado', bringing bushfire death toll to nine | Sky News AustraliaThe New South Wales bushfire crisis has tragically claimed another life with a volunteer firefighter dying when his truck rolled over in extreme winds overnight. \n\nSamuel McPaul, a 28-year-old newlywed whose wife was pregnant with their first child, died at the scene and two others suffered burns as they battled the Green Valley blaze near Jingellic, 70 kilometres east of Albury in New South Wales on Monday night. \n\nNew South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said crew on the ground described conditions as “cyclonic type winds” and a “fire tornado”. \n\nOne man was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition, while another was treated in hospital but has since been released. \n\nThere are currently 98 fires burning across the state, seven of which are burning at an emergency level. \n\nMeanwhile in Victoria, bushfires have been fuelled by extreme weather conditions not seen since the devastating Black Saturday fires in 2009. \n\nVictoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp told motorists to stay off the roads during the disaster because large parts of the state were at “significant risk” – particularly East Gippsland where a 230km stretch of road was shut down. \n\nIn South Australia, more than 40 blazes are burning across the state, fuelled by catastrophic fire conditions. \n\nMilder conditions are forecast in the state for the remainder of the week before deteriorating again on Friday. \n\nImage: Facebook
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Emergency warning issued for bushfire in Stirling Range National Park, WA | Sky News AustraliaA bushfire emergency warning has been issued in the vicinity of the Stirling Range National Park in Western Australia. \n\nPeople in the southern parts of the Shire of Gnowangerup and the northern parts of the city of Albany need to act immediately to survive. \n\nThe alert level for this fire has been upgraded as the fire has jumped containment lines.\n\nThe fire is moving in an easterly direction towards homes and people in the area must leave now if it is safe to do so.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
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