12 dead, several missing as Australia counts cost of devastating bushfires

Crikey!

Far worse than ever, and season is only half over.

Initiatives at local, mid and ground level only.

Political leadership lacking.

Still most people not effected because they stay in the cities where this year lots of smoke haze - with one identifiable cause.

Sadly a few more seasons of that are needed before most people move beyond sympathy, and occasional inconvenience of a fire ban stopping their barbecue plans.

This is really bad, not only for the wildlife, the eco system, but all of those poor people that have been affected by these fires. I am surprised that they have not mobilised the army from day one, why does the fires have to get so big before they act? I hope they get some much needed rain very soon.

And still the PM drags his feet on climate change effects.

Remember, Australia has a big coal industry and you need to keep those workers happy and employed.

From Wikipedia: Mining occurs mainly in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. About 75% of coal mined in Australia is exported, mostly to eastern Asia, and of the balance most is used in electricity generation. Coal production in Australia increased 13.6% between 2005 and 2010 and 5.3% between 2009 and 2010.

and:

Australia's primary energy consumption is dominated by coal (around 40 per cent), oil (34 per cent) and gas (22 per cent). Coal accounts for about 75 per cent of Australia's electricity generation, followed by gas (16 per cent), hydro (5 per cent) and wind around (2 per cent).

https://www.ga.gov.au › scientific-topics › energy › basics

and:

Australia will export 67 billion Australian dollars ($47.8 billion) of coal in fiscal 2018, compared with AU$63.8 billion for iron ore, according to the "Resources and Energy Quarterly" report for December published by the country's Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. Jan 13, 2019

https://asia.nikkei.com › Business › Markets › Commodities › Coal-expected-...

and here is another problem

Coal burning is the main source of electricity in Australia. A particular problem is Victorian coal, while plentiful, is of low grade (brown coal) and is wetter than black coal, which causes extra pollution when burned.

https://www.coolaustralia.org › coal-secondary

Prime Minister Morrison is the tool who bought a lump of coal into Parliament and praised it like some talisman.

The ex CEO of Mineral Council of Australia provided the coal, now works as a senior consultant {read "operative "] in Morrison's office.

Totally compromised by fossil fuel interests.

But, the blame also lies with dumb a###ed Aussies who 1/voted this lot into Government and 2/mostly don't accept the climate science .

You should read the rubbish people write on forums on news sites like Sunshine Coast Daily, a Murdoch rag in Queensland.

People who haven't finished High School knowing better than the science boffins from agencies like NASA.

Stupidity is scary in 2020.

@ GuruMick;

We have many of the same ilk here in the USA, people who, for some illogical reason, think that scientists have banded together to pull the wool over their eyes. I am an old man and will be gone before the scenario plays to its ultimate conclusion but feel a great deal of sadness for my descendants who are going to end up with an uninhabitable world.