NSW conditions ease as 2.2m hectares burn

15/12/2019

(See translation in Arabic section)

Sydney - M E Times Int'l: NSW firefighters are desperately trying to take advantage of easing conditions as fires burn across more than 2.2 million hectares, amid warnings of deteriorating weather next week.

More than 2000 firefighters continued to work across the firegrounds, which were burning across more than 2.2 million hectares, the Rural Fire Service posted on Twitter on Thursday evening.

Firefighters in the field have taken advantage of easing conditions to conduct backburning.

"Current conditions have allowed firefighters to conduct important backburning operations across many firegrounds this week, before deteriorating weather again next week," the RFS posted on Twitter on Thursday evening.

"Unfortunately, what we need is significant rainfall and that's just not predicted till early next year," she told AAP.

Australia’s Aerial Firefighting Capability

Canberra: The Australian Government will boost the country’s aerial firefighting capabilities by $11 million.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this additional funding would see more specialised firefighting aircraft take to the skies to keep Australians safe this summer.

“In response to the request from our national fire chiefs we’re backing our firefighters and our water bombing fleet with an extra $11 million boost. That’s on top of the $15 million we already deliver each year for aerial firefighting to tackle what has already been a devastating fire season,” the Prime Minister said.

“Each bushfire season we take the advice of the states and experts about what we can do to keep Australians safe. As we continue into this hot and dry bushfire season we want to ensure our fireys get the aerial support they need and have asked for.

“We saw how useful our extra support was last season which is why we’re boosting it again this year.

“As we’ve said all along, my government stands ready to deliver whatever further assistance is asked of us by the states as they battle these devastating fires.”

Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the additional funding announced today would enable annual lease periods of firefighting aircraft to be extended and ensures the right mix and type of aircraft are available to protect communities this summer.

“We recognise the vital role that aerial firefighting plays in protecting communities, essential infrastructure, and environmental values, as well as supporting firefighters on the ground,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Once again, we owe a debt of gratitude to our career and volunteer emergency services who are out there protecting our communities in the face of very difficult conditions.”

High demand for apartments in Sydney and Melbourne

Sydney: The report expected that the increase in demand for residential buildings in Sydney and Melbourne will continue until 2020.

In Melbourne, an investor bought two Art Deco buildings in the 1940s, east of Melbourne, at an auction last week for $ 6.66 million.

The first building, consisting of six one-bedroom apartments, was sold for $ 3 million, representing a return of 2.84 percent. The second building, consisting of nine studio apartments, was sold for $ 3.66 million, with a return of 3.22 percent.

Commenting on this issue, real estate expert Rania Kazzi stressed that there is an increase in demand for apartments, especially in the city of Sydney and in areas near the commercial center and close to train stations.

One Third of Large Companies Pay no Tax Under Morrison Despite $24 Million AD Campaign

Canberra: In a Joint statement Stephen Jones MP Shadow Assistant Treasurer and the Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Member for Whitlam said: "Despite spending $24 million on an advertising campaign promoting tax integrity, Scott Morrison continues to let multinational companies get away with paying little or no taxes.

Data issued by the Australian Taxation Office today shows that 710 out of the 2214 companies examined failed to pay any tax in the 2017-18 tax year.

The companies that paid no tax include 102 firms reporting more than $1 billion in total income.

While the average single Australian worker pays 25 per cent of their income in tax, large companies earning over a billion dollars averaged tax payments of only 2 per cent of total income.

Skin cancer diagnosis in Qld increases by 177 per cent

Brisbane: Queensland is experiencing a spike in the number patients hospitalised with skin cancer. The rate of diagnosis tripled in the past five years, with a 177 per cent increase in patient admission in Queensland alone, according to new Medebank data. Researchers in the state are poised to start human trials after a breakthrough immunotherapy cancer treatment was discovered. Queensland had the highest number of new skin cancer cases across the country, followed by Western Australia and New South Wales.

Education minister calls for increased teacher training

Canberra: Education Minister Dan Tehan is calling on state and territory leaders to back increased literacy training for teachers. An education taskforce has recommended including - in the accreditation standards - that all teaching graduates should be able to teach phonics. Graduates would have to undergo a stand-alone unit on early reading that covers phonics instruction. Data shows the nation's academic performance has continued to decline while universities overlooked the importance of teaching children to read and write.

The White Island volcano disaster in New Zealand

N.Z: Today is another difficult day for those involved in the White Island volcano disaster in New Zealand, for people who remain in hospital and families who have received the most devastating of news, and those still enduring the agony of awaiting news of their loved ones.

Our hearts go out to all of the Australians and their families caught up in this tragedy, and our Kiwi cousins across the Tasman.

This is a time of immense grief and great sorrow for everyone involved.

Together with the New Zealand Government, and relevant authorities, we are doing everything we can to assist those directly impacted and their families.

Three Royal Australian Air Force aircraft have been deployed to New Zealand as part of the repatriation effort.

The NSW, Victorian, Queensland and South Australian Governments have also provided aircraft.

Matt Kean playing 'virtue-signalling game' by feeding 'climate alarmism'

Sydney: Chris Kenny says the "easy way to endear yourselves to virtue-signallers" and the green-left is to "play their game of feeding into climate change alarmism". NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean has linked this year's bushfire crisis to climate change. "This is despite the fact the reason fires are bad this year is because of the drought - one of the worst on record," Mr Kenny said. "And despite analysis from climate change experts that the drought cannot be directly linked to climate change." Mr Kenny said whether it is Matt Kean or Malcolm Turnbull or Adam Bandt or Greta Thunberg, he could not see "point of their hysteria".

Agriculture Ministers Meeting on Drought

Sydney: NSW Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has welcomed a commitment by fellow agriculture ministers to improve co-ordination and streamline drought assistance.

Mr Marshall made the comments off the back of today’s meeting of agriculture ministers in Moree, which was urgently called to discuss the ongoing response to drought.

“I am pleased today’s meeting has resulted in a firm commitment from other governments, including the Commonwealth, to streamline drought assistance and better co-ordinate response measures,” Mr Marshall said.

“This is the worst drought on record and it’s become a truly national crisis. It’s therefore essential governments across the country work hand in hand to deliver the best assistance in the most streamlined fashion.

“Urgent action is required to integrate the many and varied assistance measures at a State and Commonwealth level and today NSW secured an agreement to make this happen by February.

Consumers "are worried about the economy"

Sydney: Despite housing prices rising across the country, consumers are "worried about their level of debt and the labour market" according to EY's chief economist, Jo Masters. Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show GDP has grown to 0.4 per cent in the September quarter, bringing Australia’s annual growth to 1.7 per cent. Ms Masters said higher house prices are "not feeding through to consumer confidence" and not "feeding through to spending".

Albanese calls to debate sending Australian troops into war

Sydney: In his last major speech for the year, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese called for parliament to debate decisions on sending Australian troops into war. Labor's Anthony Albanese delivered his third 'vision statement' in Sydney, and argued the government executive had steadily assumed "greater political power" over recent years, at the expense of the parliament. Mr Albanese also claimed the ability of Australians to debate key issues, like climate change, was undermined by the rise of "culture wars". The Opposition Leader also accused the government of "ignoring" warnings from firefighters about the current bushfire season.

Central Sydney CBD set to Thrive

Sydney: More office space, good design and high-quality public places are the cornerstone of plans to supercharge growth and investment in Sydney’s CBD.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes today announced the NSW Government’s in-principle support of the City of Sydney’s Central Sydney Planning Strategy.

Mr Stokes said the Strategy will guide Central Sydney’s commercial, residential and recreational future and will enable more jobs and growth while protecting the city’s iconic heritage and public spaces.

“Sydney CBD is Australia’s economic gateway to the world, generating nearly $110 billion each year. This strategy means we will deliver nearly three million square metres of new office space to ensure Sydney remains the commercial hub of the nation,” Mr Stokes said.