NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and senior ministers say the worsening drought and a 'combination of factors' have caused bushfires that are burning across NSW and choking Sydney in smoke
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and senior ministers say the worsening drought and a "combination of factors" have caused bushfires that are burning across NSW and choking Sydney in smoke.
But the Premier and her colleagues stopped short of directly linking the fires to climate change after Environment Minister Matt Kean saidNSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her colleagues say several factors have contributed to the bushfires. Also pictured are Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Emergency Services Minister David Elliott and NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller.
"But of course I accept the fact [of] climate change, of course I accept that all governments around the world have to play a part in addressing these extreme weather conditions and I expect my Environment Minister to be a champion of those issues.""And we know that is what is causing these massive bushfires. However, of course you need to look at these broader issues as well and it's a combination of factors we need to look at," Ms Berejiklian said.
"But you've also got everything from bush land management, fuel loads, access, fire trails, all these things, the frontline are saying that, that's what they're talking about.""We just need everybody to be mindful that our rural communities are hurting at the moment ...
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said that it was not the time to be talking about climate change and bushfires and told ABC radio on Wednesday it was a "philosophical debate"."At the moment, the discussion isn't around what we should be talking about in terms of climate change, we should be focusing on supporting those communities," she said.
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