1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: Jonesy and Amanda in the morning. 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 2: Sam. 3 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: It's no secret the New South Wales has had a 4 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: rough start to the year. Fires tearing across the state 5 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: and the country. It's an uncertain and a shaky start 6 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: to the new decade. But there have been I will think, 7 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: I will say two very steady people at the helm. 8 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: One of them is Shane Fitzsimmons, the head of the RFS, 9 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: and another one has been our premier, who I think 10 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,799 Speaker 1: is sudd an extraordinary job. Gladysbury jically in Hello. 11 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 2: Hi Amanda, Hi Jonesy. Thank you. That's very generous. 12 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 3: Have you had a break. 13 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 2: I haven't had a break, but that's okay because it's 14 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 2: actually very humbling and it's really I think it changes 15 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: you when you see people in those circumstances. But you 16 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 2: also see people who rise above certain situations or get 17 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 2: through situations and help others when they're going through a 18 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 2: really tough time. And that makes you think, what can 19 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 2: I do to be a better human being? Because I've 20 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 2: just seen some amazing examples of people helping each other, 21 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: putting their own life on the line, Families who are 22 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: coping with grief. You know, it's it's not an understatement 23 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 2: to say. Our state's gone through probably the most horrific 24 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 2: time in its living history in terms of our living memory, 25 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 2: in terms of the last couple of hundred years, and 26 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 2: it's going to take time to rebuild. And we've started 27 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: the process. And again it's been for me a wonderful 28 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 2: privilege to go around the state and talk to people 29 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: who have been directly impacted and make sure that we're 30 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 2: doing everything we can to help them in the rebuilding process. 31 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: And the money is starting to be released now people 32 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: will start to see help. 33 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it's already been released. I mean in pockets. 34 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 2: I mean obviously there's direct state and federal government support. 35 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: But charity is the Red Cross. I was down on 36 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: the South coast and you know, for a lot of people, 37 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: it's difficult taking help because they're independent, they've worked hard 38 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: all their lives, and you know, my message to everybody 39 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: is none of us know what's around the corner. Please 40 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 2: get the help you need, because we want to see 41 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: you get bit better and stronger. Then you can help 42 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: others in the future. And a lot of people I 43 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: know will do that. But the Red Cross was giving 44 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 2: out ten thousand dollars directly to people as well, So 45 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: direct assistance is there. What is difficult it is for 46 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: some people who are in remote communities who may not 47 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 2: get the information. So the key thing is to make 48 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: sure people have the information about what they can get assistance. 49 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 3: And we're seeing that with the wraps feel people from 50 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 3: three months ago with the fires that went through there 51 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 3: and I was reading the paper the other day they're 52 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 3: living in caravans. 53 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: Well, we have to be careful there because some of 54 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 2: them are choosing to buy choice and I'll tell you 55 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: why because they want to be on their property, so 56 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: they but they want to be close to their farm, 57 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:29,679 Speaker 2: they want to be close to where the kids go 58 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 2: to school. So yes, there are It's not as simple 59 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 2: as no. Yeah, there are some people who are you know, 60 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: there are options for people, but some people feel a 61 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: connection to their land and their property and have made 62 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: that choice. But we say, if you need help, the 63 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: help is available. The help is there, and we've now 64 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 2: set up a new system through Service New South Wales, 65 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: which one of you've heard of. So if people don't 66 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: know how to get help for assistance, that's probably the 67 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: biggest challenge we have at the moment getting information to 68 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 2: people on what is available for them so they can 69 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 2: start making decisions and making choices, because we want people 70 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: to feel at least a level of empowerment in making 71 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: those decisions moving forward. 72 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: I've was very impressed with your Environment Minister Matt Kean, 73 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: who said that he felt that there were many members 74 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: of the Liberal Party you didn't feel the government was 75 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: doing enough, the federal government in terms of climate action. 76 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: Our Prime Minister said, mister Kean doesn't know what he's 77 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: talking about. He doesn't know what's going on. We don't 78 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: know who Matt Kean is. I was offended on your behalf. 79 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: How did you feel through all that? 80 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 2: Oh? Look, look, I don't to be honest, I'm always 81 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 2: someone who focuses on my job and I don't care 82 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 2: too much about what people. Well, I shouldn't, I should 83 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: be more respectful. But you know, to me, there's always 84 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: going to be people who express their views on various 85 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: things and this. 86 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: Is a very important view. I can see why Matt 87 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: Kean is saying this is too important to not talk about. 88 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: From a New South Wales government perspective. I mean, we're 89 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: quite proud of the work we have done in relation 90 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 2: to climate change and the environment, and we've got a 91 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: Climate Change Fund which we've had which has got one 92 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 2: point four billion dollars to invest in climate change initiatives. 93 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 2: We've got really, I believe, a good balance in New 94 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 2: South Wales. We've got energy security, low household bills, but 95 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: also conscious of moving to renewables at the same time, 96 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 2: so I think we've got a really good balance in 97 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 2: New South Wales. And before the bush fires hit, i'd 98 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: actually launched last year, about eighteen months ago, a strategy 99 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 2: to protect our koalas, so we did have those plans 100 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: in place where we're executing them, but unfortunately we've now 101 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 2: got to recess all that in the wake of what's happened. 102 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 3: When you went to those fire grounds, there was a 103 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 3: lot of hostility I saw from very various politicians, well 104 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 3: Scott Morrison for one, because he was getting the backlash 105 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 3: about the Hawaiian trip and everything. Did that fall back 106 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 3: on you as well. 107 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: Because as leaders we accept that that sometimes people have 108 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 2: to take out their anger and frustration, so that's part 109 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 2: of the job description, so you don't mind that. But 110 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 2: generally speaking, I think people just want to be informed. 111 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: They just want to know what decisions they can take 112 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 2: and also it was really encouraging. Yesterday I was in 113 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 2: a few smaller communities on the far south coast like 114 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: Quarma and know how to pronounce it now it's Qaama 115 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 2: and other places. And they actually had friend from different 116 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: parts of the state come and visit them to support 117 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 2: them through the process. So it was lovely to see 118 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 2: people who don't even live in that community come to 119 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: support their friends and just try and get information to 120 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 2: how that can rebuild. And then visiting some of the 121 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 2: RFS crews yesterday, places like ben Boca, they had like 122 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 2: forty of them yesterday, RFS crew members who faced the 123 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 2: situation they've had to face before. But they saved their town. 124 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 2: They saved a lot of their houses and a lot 125 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: of their properties. A few of them did a few 126 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 2: of the firefighters lost their places, but the vast majority 127 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 2: of the town, that particular town was protected. And then 128 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 2: in Cabargo, of course, beautiful town. Please go back. The 129 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 2: main street still has the bakery opened, and a few 130 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 2: other great shops. Cabargo got civilly impacted. And the message 131 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 2: they they said to me Premier, tell everybody it's okay 132 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: to come and visit. It's okay to come and you know, 133 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 2: we want people to keep supporting the community through tourism. 134 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 2: So because a lot of the shows won't be happening 135 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 2: this year because they have you know, the various country shows. 136 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: But the NRL's going down to beger on the twenty 137 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 2: ninth of February, which is good. So that's sorry the 138 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 2: twenty I might get the date wrong last year. I 139 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: mean it twenty nine, because that's that's the leap you day, right, 140 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 2: that's the day they're going down. So they do. The 141 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 2: community does want They just want to get back to 142 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 2: normal and part and it was encouraging. I mean, I've 143 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 2: been to the far South Coast a couple of times, 144 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: and I've been to different parts of the state and 145 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 2: Inland is a different story. But on the South coast 146 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 2: you can see from the first week of absolute devastation, 147 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 2: shock and panic to kind of now some sensus normal 148 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 2: seeing pockets of the community. So people are starting to 149 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: and now the questions are, well, how can we get help? 150 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 2: Where can we get help? And that's that's where we're 151 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 2: come in. All levels of government, to be honest, federal, state, local, 152 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: have to work together, as do the charities because people 153 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: are rightly saying there's a lot. There is a lot 154 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 2: of money for what the government's contributing, what the charity 155 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: is contributing, there should be enough there to help everybody, 156 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 2: and so therefore there is. So therefore what is missing. 157 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 2: The missing bit of the puzzle is make sure everybody 158 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: knows what's available and how to access it. And that's 159 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 2: the key thing. 160 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: How do people do that? 161 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: Well, we're asking them to go through Service New Southwales, 162 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 2: so you can, but if you live in a community, 163 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: you will know. If you live in a very impacted community, 164 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 2: there will be a recovery center near you, so you 165 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 2: can physically go sit down with someone a counsel or 166 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 2: not even some people don't like to access that kind 167 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 2: of helping public as well. But you can sit down 168 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: with a Service New Southwill's person and go through your circumstances, 169 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 2: or sit down through with a Family and Community services person, 170 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 2: sit down and explain all your circumstances and they can 171 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 2: tell you exactly what's available to you. So there's a 172 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: few different channels to get information. But that is a 173 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 2: key thing for us at the moment, just making sure 174 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 2: people know what they can and I appreciate there will 175 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 2: be people who unfortunately fall through the cracks because so 176 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: many houses, so many people have been affected, and we're 177 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 2: trying to stop that as much as possible. 178 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 3: But literally, so, if you feel like you're falling through 179 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 3: the cracks, reach out to something. 180 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: Please, because there's always help, there's always hope, there's always 181 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 2: something that you can get. And really, when you add 182 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 2: up all the and it's not about the dollars and 183 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 2: not about the numbers, but there are lots of different categories. 184 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 2: I mean, it's a bit confusing for people because there's 185 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 2: so much different categories. So we're used to it as 186 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 2: politicians because you rattle off all the different categories, but 187 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: for people who have not been in this situation before, 188 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 2: it can be very confronting and a bit all too hard. 189 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 2: But we're saying, please go in. There'll be one person 190 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 2: you can talk to that'll just take you through everything. 191 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 2: Join the and Amanda in the morning one at one 192 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: point seven, tell you f