Australian PM Morrison admits to bushfire mistakes, proposes royal commission into crisis

[Vanguard One]

Scott Morrison has conceded there are things he could have handled better in terms of the devastating bushfires.

The prime minister - who announced a new $76 million package to provide counselling to firefighters and residents in affected communities - has come under criticism for not doing enough at a national level to prepare for the bushfires which have taken the lives of 28 Australians.

Mr Morrison, who plans to take a proposal for a bushfires royal commission to cabinet in coming weeks, has also faced insults and anger from locals as he visited bushfire-hit areas.

Scott Morrison sits down with David Speers for an interview on his response to the Australian bushfire crisis. (ABC)

"There are things I could have handled on the ground much better," Mr Morrison told ABC TV.

"These are sensitive, emotional environments.

"Prime ministers are flesh and blood too in how they engage with these people.

"When I went there I went there in good faith, with Jenny on occasions, to provide what consolation I could. They're very strained environments ... you would do things differently and learn from every event but the important thing is the actions we have taken."

Mr Morrison said the scale of the bushfires was "unprecedented" and had created a situation in which Australians were demanding a greater response from the federal government than had been provided in the past.

"That was not something that was recommended going into this fire season," he said.

"There is a very new appetite, a very new expectation."

He said his government had acted on all recommendations put to it before the bushfire season.

Scott Morrison tours the fire devastated Wildflower farm owned by Paul and Melissa Churchman in Sarsfield, Victoria. (AP)

Climate change policy

The prime minister has faced criticism for lacking ambition on cutting Australia's emissions and many of his coalition colleagues have downplayed the link between climate change and the devastating bushfires.

Australia has pledged to cut emissions by 26 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030, under the Paris Agreement.

"It is my intention to meet and beat that target," Mr Morrison said today.

"In the years ahead we are going to continue to evolve our policy in this area to reduce emissions even further and we are going to do it without a carbon tax, without putting up electricity prices and without shutting down traditional industries."

Asked whether he was open to moving the existing target, he said: "What I'm saying is we want to reduce emissions and do the best job we possibly can and get better and better and better at it."

Mr Morrison acknowledged some within coalition ranks felt climate change had nothing to do with the bushfires.

But it was the government's "uncontested" advice and position that climate change was impacting on longer, hotter, drier summer seasons.

"That is the position of the government - let there be no dispute about that," he said.
One of the issues which should be explored by a royal commission into the bushfires, would be the impact of climate change, he said.

Mental health package

Mr Morrison said the mental health package would ensure communities could address the traumatic emotional toll the "unprecedented" bushfires have had on people.

"We need to ensure the trauma and mental health needs of our people are supported in a way like we never have before," he said.

Free counselling sessions will be available through recovery centres and Service Australia sites to address short-term trauma.

Youth-focused Headspace will get $7.4 million to boost services in 12 fire-ravaged regions and to speed-up the construction of its Batemans Bay centre.

Firefighters and other emergency personnel will be able to access more intensive support through better-funded specialist organisations.

Almost $30 million will go to boosting telehealth services and doubling the number of free psychological therapy sessions bushfire-affected people can access through Medicare.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 22 4636

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au

Head to Health www.headtohealth.gov.au

© AAP 2020

https://www.9news.com.au/national/a...mistakes/636b18be-9676-449d-ab2c-8c4e41b29f50

 

[El Sidd]

Crime against Humanity

He should face charges of genocide and extinction of species.

 

[PeaceGen]

how about converting large airplanes to fire fighting planes, which spray water efficiently onto the ground to stop large stretches of bushfires? those could be designed and built within a few years, and it's not looking like this new and dire problem for Australia is going to fix itself.

and we can't pray to God for rain over Australia either, God simply does not have *that* much control over the global climate, which is governed by the laws of physics and nature.

 

[Rusty]

Like all right wing nut job leaders around the world (including Trump and Modi) he is actively trying to destroy the planet and cause as much death and destruction possible.

 

[FedererExpress]

Resignation is the only thing the people will accept. The damage is already done.

 

[kankan326]

Like all right wing nut job leaders around the world (including Trump and Modi) he is actively trying to destroy the planet and cause as much death and destruction possible.

Aren't you the guy who believes only democracy can make things done correctly?

 

[Rusty]

Aren't you the guy who believes only democracy can make things done correctly?

I'm the guy who was given an education that taught me how to think for myself.

My comments prove that I don't follow the dictates of one man programming me *cough* patriotic education

You will never understand this.
which is why you get so angry when I say thing you don't like.
Only to be confused when I say things that you do like.


And who said anything about "only way to make things done correctly"
Anyone can do things correctly in any system, democracy, communism, dictatorships, etc.

The problem is, what do we do when things are done incorrectly?

In the Chinese and other systems you have no choice but to deal with it...

Democracy is the only system that allows the people to say "You are not doing the right thing, and we will vote you out"

I don't expect you to understand as you have never experience such power of the people, but there is a reason no democracy has ever willing turned communist, but the majority of communist countries quickly became democratic as soon as the threat of violence was taken away (fall of the soviet Union)

 

[Vanguard One]

I'm the guy who was given an education that taught me how to think for myself.

My comments prove that I don't follow the dictates of one man programming me *cough* patriotic education

You will never understand this.
which is why you get so angry when I say thing you don't like.
Only to be confused when I say things that you do like.


And who said anything about "only way to make things done correctly"
Anyone can do things correctly in any system, democracy, communism, dictatorships, etc.

The problem is, what do we do when things are done incorrectly?

In the Chinese and other systems you have no choice but to deal with it...

Democracy is the only system that allows the people to say "You are not doing the right thing, and we will vote you out"

I don't expect you to understand as you have never experience such power of the people, but there is a reason no democracy has ever willing turned communist, but the majority of communist countries quickly became democratic as soon as the threat of violence was taken away (fall of the soviet Union)

Your comments also prove why living in a democracy you can freely voice your opinions without getting executed or "disappearing".

Some of these trolls are just idiots.

 

[kankan326]

I'm the guy who was given an education that taught me how to think for myself.

My comments prove that I don't follow the dictates of one man programming me *cough* patriotic education

You will never understand this.
which is why you get so angry when I say thing you don't like.
Only to be confused when I say things that you do like.


And who said anything about "only way to make things done correctly"
Anyone can do things correctly in any system, democracy, communism, dictatorships, etc.

The problem is, what do we do when things are done incorrectly?

In the Chinese and other systems you have no choice but to deal with it...

Democracy is the only system that allows the people to say "You are not doing the right thing, and we will vote you out"

I don't expect you to understand as you have never experience such power of the people, but there is a reason no democracy has ever willing turned communist, but the majority of communist countries quickly became democratic as soon as the threat of violence was taken away (fall of the soviet Union)

Western democracy is like making a bad decision from worses. Sure you can vote someone out. But you can never vote out the whole "bad from worse" system.

China's leader selection system can make sure the chosen one is qualified. After Mao, all Chinese leaders were, if not excellent, qualified for their work. Which guaranteed 40 years fast development. And China is not a dictatorship country. There is "democracy inside CCP". You can see Chinese leaders always kept low profile. Totally different from real dictators.

 

[newb3e]

 

[Rusty]

Western democracy is like making a bad decision from worses. Sure you can vote someone out. But you can never vote out the whole "bad from worse" system.

China's leader selection system can make sure the chosen one is qualified. After Mao, all Chinese leaders were, if not excellent, qualified for their work. Which guaranteed 40 years fast development. And China is not a dictatorship country. There is "democracy inside CCP". You can see Chinese leaders always kept low profile. Totally different from real dictators.

You are starting from the assumption that "democracy is bad and rotten"
This is what you are taught in patriotic education so it's not surprising.

If you look at the facts, every developed and high HDI country on earth is a democracy with the exception of China (which as a whole nation is still middle income) and petro states (which solely rely on oil so they will die out once the oil runs dry)

No system can make sure of anything. We are all human after all.
This is your patriotic education speaking that says the CPC is super human.

China has made mistakes like every other nation on earth. The difference is that China just hides theirs and jails anyone why disagrees with it.

The best example of this is the 2008 milk scandal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal#Arrests

The most striking part of the scandal was not the poison milk itself, as stuff like this is not un-common in developing countries with high level of corruption.

The striking part was how the government, who knew babies are dying, tired to keep the population ignorant.


Behind the scenes, China's media was ordered to tone down coverage of the unfolding scandal to prevent unrest.[187] News editors were ordered to adhere to the official copy of Xinhua. Traditionally, media knows to avoid negative news coverage, and CCTV shifted reporting emphasis on the forthcoming launch of Shenzhou VII.[58] The announcement of the AQSIQ test results was relegated to the final item on the CCTV evening news.[61]

The Wall Street Journal reported that the suppression of bad news had not improved since the scandal was uncovered: media rigidly adheres to the official line, as ordered; Chinese consumers were ill-informed about the extent of global recalls. It reported local journalists saying that discussion of the causes of the crisis, government responsibility, questions about government complicity with dairy companies, was strictly off limits.[57]

On 2 January, a website created by individuals protesting against Sanlu was also blocked by the authorities. A group of parents whose children were rendered ill by melamine-contaminated milk held a news conference to draw attention to the plight of their sick children; five were allegedly detained by police and taken to a labour camp outside Beijing.[188] They were released a day later.[189]



This more then anything else proves that the CPC cares more about it's power then it does of Chinese babies.


Again, I don't expect you to understand what I am saying. You have gone through 18 years of patriotic education and no random internet poster is going to change your mind.

But what I have presented are facts and for anyone who denies it, just go to Hong Kong where every shop sells these in bulk..... so mainlanders have a chance to give their child non poisoned milk.

Nobody from a developed democracy is rushing to HK to buy baby formula

 

[Vanguard One]

You are starting from the assumption that "democracy is bad and rotten"
This is what you are taught in patriotic education so it's not surprising.

If you look at the facts, every developed and high HDI country on earth is a democracy with the exception of China (which as a whole nation is still middle income) and petro states (which solely rely on oil so they will die out once the oil runs dry)

No system can make sure of anything. We are all human after all.
This is your patriotic education speaking that says the CPC is super human.

China has made mistakes like every other nation on earth. The difference is that China just hides theirs and jails anyone why disagrees with it.

The best example of this is the 2008 milk scandal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal#Arrests

The most striking part of the scandal was not the poison milk itself, as stuff like this is not un-common in developing countries with high level of corruption.

The striking part was how the government, who knew babies are dying, tired to keep the population ignorant.


Behind the scenes, China's media was ordered to tone down coverage of the unfolding scandal to prevent unrest.[187] News editors were ordered to adhere to the official copy of Xinhua. Traditionally, media knows to avoid negative news coverage, and CCTV shifted reporting emphasis on the forthcoming launch of Shenzhou VII.[58] The announcement of the AQSIQ test results was relegated to the final item on the CCTV evening news.[61]

The Wall Street Journal reported that the suppression of bad news had not improved since the scandal was uncovered: media rigidly adheres to the official line, as ordered; Chinese consumers were ill-informed about the extent of global recalls. It reported local journalists saying that discussion of the causes of the crisis, government responsibility, questions about government complicity with dairy companies, was strictly off limits.[57]

On 2 January, a website created by individuals protesting against Sanlu was also blocked by the authorities. A group of parents whose children were rendered ill by melamine-contaminated milk held a news conference to draw attention to the plight of their sick children; five were allegedly detained by police and taken to a labour camp outside Beijing.[188] They were released a day later.[189]



This more then anything else proves that the CPC cares more about it's power then it does of Chinese babies.


Again, I don't expect you to understand what I am saying. You have gone through 18 years of patriotic education and no random internet poster is going to change your mind.

But what I have presented are facts and for anyone who denies it, just go to Hong Kong where every shop sells these in bulk..... so mainlanders have a chance to give their child non poisoned milk.

Nobody from a developed democracy is rushing to HK to buy baby formula

And now in China there is a new super bug, they have killing millions of pigs because pork is contaminated in China, but the brainwashed trolls on there are too stupid to see that.

I would rather live in a democracy like Australia where the leader of the nation admits to making mistakes, and wants a royal commission into his own leadership.

While Winnie the Pooh covers up everything and arrests people for protesting because as we all know a country that worships Mao will worship and believe everything their government tell them to believe.

Do you believe that the CCP now claim that they even control reincarnation? Because the Dali Lama said he would be reincarnated outside of Chinese controlled Tibet? LOL

 

[Offshore]

Aren't you the guy who believes only democracy can make things done correctly?

WHy even bother with hypocrite, he is pissed off with Uyghur issue, with i personaly enjoyed it.

 

[Rusty]

WHy even bother with hypocrite, he is pissed off with Uyghur issue, with i personaly enjoyed it.

source?

Just because you said something doesn't mean it's true... oh wait, you think everything Mr. Xi says is true.

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

Crime against Humanity

He should face charges of genocide and extinction of species.

Toss him with the half a million animals that lost their lives

Aren't you the guy who believes only democracy can make things done correctly?

Better then throwing minorities in a camp and killing them off. Genocidal maniacs