Editor-at-large at The Australian Paul Kelly says Scott Morrison now has “an international, China based health challenge” in addition to “responding to the bushfires”.
“We’ve just been through one challenge, the bushfires, and the interesting point was the government was slow on the uptake, its national leadership wasn’t there,” Mr Kelly told Sky News.
“What we’ve now got with this virus is the government is very keen to get on the front foot and to be seen to be responding to this effectively”. The coronavirus death toll has risen to 80 globally. Image: News Corp Australia
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NSW govt 'has failed the state on bushfires' and should be 'called out' | Sky News AustraliaFire Brigade Employees' Union of New South Wales Secretary Leighton Drury says the NSW government has 'failed' the state this bushfire season, as he called for a federal royal commission into the issue. \n\nMr Drury told Sky News host Sharri Markson the NSW government have been 'stymieing' Fire Rescue NSW's budget, which has led to 'less professional fire fighters' than seen in previous years. \n\n'Since they've got into power, they have cut budgets that has led to the problem that we're now seeing,' Mr Drury said.\n\n'We need a royal commission into this ... we need an absolute overview of this, a federal overview,' he said. \n\nMr Drury said the state has been 'basically crippled' by the devastating bushfires experienced this fire season as commented that the resulting 'scorecard' of damage and death incurred is one which reflects poorly on the state government. \n\nMr Drury said the state government 'have failed this community of New South Wales for the last eight years and it should be absolutely shown up'. \n\nHe also called for enhanced fire reduction burns to be undertaken by 'a professional work force,' saying professional firefighters from Fire Rescue NSW should be responsible for conducting enhanced control of hazard reductions as opposed to volunteers. \n\nImage: News Corp Australia \n
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'Angry' class action lawsuit levelled against Morrison govt for 'climate change inaction' | Sky News AustraliaA new online petition calling for a class action lawsuit to commence against the Morrison government for its 'failure to act on climate change' is simply 'dripping in partisan nature,' says Queensland Shadow Tourism Minister David Crisafulli.\n\nThe floated class action suit against the federal government already has over 63,000 signatures, with a total target of 75,000. \n\nAs part of the Change.Org online petition, allegations are being levelled against the Morrison government that it has 'failed to increase its emissions targets [and] failed to increase the renewable energy targets and failed the people of Australia'. \n\n'They use dodgy numbers, they use dodgy arguments, and this is what we've come to expect,' Mr Crisafulli told Sky News host Paul Murray. \n\nMr Crisafulli said it would be 'wonderful if we could have proper debate' about environmental policy instead of resorting to these 'angry' tactics.\n\n'You have this class action and this angry nature, it will go nowhere,' he said. \n\n'In the end it does nothing other than to continue to divide us'. \n\nImage: Getty
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Trump did ‘absolutely nothing wrong’: impeachment defence team | Sky News AustraliaUS President Donald Trump’s powerful team of lawyers have begun making their case in the Senate impeachment trial — arguing he did “absolutely nothing wrong”.\n\nThey claim the Democrats’ efforts to remove President Trump from office would set a “very dangerous” precedent in an election year.
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‘Get rid of fireworks’ and bring in drones and lights | Sky News AustraliaTechnology expert Djuro Sen says in the coming years Australia should “get rid of fireworks” at large celebrations and instead turn to light shows or drones.\n\nMr Sen said in the Chinese city of Shenzhen dozens of buildings were fitted with LEDs and laser lights coordinated with music, offering an impressive spectacle.\n\nAnother option Mr Sen said was drone “swarm technology” which can serve as an alternative to pyrotechnics, capable of creating intricate displays in the sky such dragons.\n\n“In a few years we’ll be seeing drones doing the same job as many explosive projectiles,” he said. \n\n“They could use drones to simulate what happens when it comes to the actual explosive nature of the fireworks.”\n\nHis remarks come after a horror fire season which caused some fireworks displays to be cancelled. \n\nImage: Getty
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‘Security incidents’ trigger Red Cross social media suspension | Sky News AustraliaThe Australian Red Cross has suspended social media activity after reporting “security incidents” to police.\n\nAccusations emerged this week that the organisation had planned to quarantine some bushfire funding for future disasters, claims the charity has since denied. \n\nThe Red Cross has posted a message on Facebook outlining exactly where the funding is going. \n\nAnother message has since been uploaded confirming the charity's social media hiatus, saying the decision is a “precautionary measure”.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
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