Australia & Pacifics

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Public support for Prime Minister Scott Morrison has slumped to its lowest levels amid widespread anger over his government’s handling of Australia’s bushfire crisis, according to a survey released by Newspoll on Monday.

At least 28 people have been killed in the fires that have destroyed 2,000 homes, and razed 11.2 million hectares (27.7 million acres), nearly half the area of the United Kingdom

CANBERRA, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, suffered a blow to his approval rating, amid the ongoing bushfire crisis.

According to the latest news poll, which was published on Sunday night, The Australian revealed that, Morrison’s popularity plunged, since he became prime minister in 2018.

It was found that Morrison’s net approval rating, which is calculated by subtracting his dissatisfaction rating from his satisfaction rating, has fallen from negative three in Dec, to negative 22.

CANBERRA, Jan 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian Government, announced 76 million Australian dollars (52.4 million U.S. dollars) in funding, for mental health services in bushfire-affected communities.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that, the funding would cover free counselling sessions, health consultations and rebates for 10 psychological therapy sessions, via Medicare, Australia’s universal public healthcare system.

“These bushfires have been unprecedented in their scale, coverage and duration,” he said.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — An Australian man who was injured in a volcanic eruption in New Zealand more than a month ago has died, becoming the 20th victim of the disaster, officials said Monday.

Paul Browitt and his two daughters were caught in the Dec. 9 eruption on White Island. The body of Krystal Browitt, 21, was among six recovered from the island in the days after the eruption.

Paul Browitt and his daughter Stephanie Browitt, 23, survived the eruption and were transferred to Alfred Hospital in their hometown of Melbourne three days after the disaster.

BODALLA, Australia (AP) — Crews battling Australia’s wildfires said Sunday that they have been able to turn from defense to offense for the first time in weeks thanks to a break in the weather.

Dale McLean, who is helping manage the response to a fire near the town of Bodalla in New South Wales state, was part of team that was bulldozing down small trees and burning scrub ahead of the fire’s projected path to try to stop it from reaching a major highway by starving it of fuel.

BURRAGATE, Australia (AP) — As the sky darkened and the smoke billowed through the village, it seemed to those hunkering at the fire station that “The Beast” would finally roar through. But the wildfire only crept closer, prodding forward a few tentative fingers before falling asleep again as the winds died.

BURRAGATE, Australia (AP) — Two wildfires merged to form a massive inferno in southeast Australia on Saturday, near where a man suffered serious burns protecting a home during a night of treacherous conditions during the nation’s unprecedented fire crisis.

Authorities were assessing the damage after firefighters battled flames fanned by strong winds through the night and lightning strikes sparked new blazes in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia’s most populous states. Conditions were milder Saturday and forecast to remain relatively benign for the next week.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Australian government is very appreciative of Malaysia’s offer to provide assistance in fighting one of its worst bushfire crises, said Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia Datuk Sudha Devi KR Vasudevan.

She said Australia will get back to Malaysia on the proposal to send a firefighting and rescue team to the country if needed.

EDEN, Australia (AP) — Thousands of people fled their homes and helicopters dropped supplies to towns at risk of nearby wildfires as hot, windy conditions Friday threatened already fire-ravaged southeastern Australian communities.

The danger is centered on New South Wales and Victoria, Australia’s most populous states, where temperatures and wind speeds are escalating after a few days of relatively benign conditions.

MELBOURNE, Jan 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A state of emergency has been declared for Saturday in Victoria, as the ongoing bushfire in Australia continued to rage in several of its states.

Australia’s NineNews (9News) reported that the fires are expected to merge and expand in Victoria’s east, and this has prompted the Victorian government to declare a state of emergency.

The Victorian government is using unprecedented powers to keep people safe, 9News quoted Premier Daniel Andrews saying.