Leadership lacking in Oz
It seems inconceivable anyone can still doubt or deny the existence of human-induced climate change and its effect on our precious planet right here, right now. What to make, then, of a prime minister still apparently unconvinced by that reality when his country is being ravaged by out-of control fires, raining embers, choked by polluting smoke that turns noon to night; whose citizens are wearing masks, lining beaches turned black by ash and awaiting rescue in a terrifying rerun of the Dunkirk evacuation, and dying trying to defend their homes and livelihoods; whose bravest men and women are pictured night after day pitting themselves against vast, towering corridors of flame in scenes described by ordinary Australians and horrified onlookers the world over as “apocalyptic”.
Can anyone still doubt climate change happens in isolation — or happens elsewhere and to other people? Surely not New Zealanders, who have welcomed in the first days of the new year, cast in an eerie, orange haze courtesy of the massive current of smoke drifting across the Tasman from our nearest neighbour. As one person reflected on Twitter: “I live in New Zealand but I can smell Australia burning.”
Interviews with firefighters show this is war: on the front line — as they battle “mega” blazes whose scale, intensity and earlier onset they say is unprecedented — and in the corridors of power.
The test of a good leader is often how they react in a crisis. Our country was fortunate last year, in the face of two events that rocked the nation to its core — to have a Prime Minister who was present, strong but sympathetic, who offered comfort and leadership in some of our darkest hours, and responded swiftly and decisively.
The same cannot be said of Scott Morrison. The Australian PM has been widely condemned over past weeks: for heading to Hawaii on holiday as the fires raged; his New Year message that promoted Australia as “the most amazing country on Earth” where “there’s no better place to raise kids anywhere on the planet”; and other “tone deaf ” pictures and comments appearing to trivialise the fires as the “backdrop” to the next trans-Tasman Test match.
And he is adamant there will be no climate change policy reset; no legislative changes. The fires are apparently nothing out of the ordinary, Australians are “resilient”, there’s nothing to see here.
It is hard not to feel helpless and hopeless in the face of wilful blindness of leaders who would label any inconvenient truth “fake news”, as our nearest neighbour burns, as Donald Trump pulls the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement and as the “Trump of the Tropics” continues his scorched Earth policy in the Amazon.
But we all have a part to play; in heeding the science, championing the truth, challenging misinformation, and demanding responsible, bold and urgent action of our leaders. The battle cannot be left to firefighters and teenage activists alone. Not when we’re all in this together.