Thursday February 16, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

New arson attacks, looting reported in Australian wildfire area; death toll nears 200

World Feb. 11, 2009 - 04:00PM JST ( 6 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

6 Comments

0

Suzu1Feb. 11, 2009 - 11:22AM JST

Bushfire survivors have criticised the Federal Government for demanding families who lost everything produce identification before they receive financial help. Journalist and survivor Gary Hughes wrote an open letter to Mr Rudd attacking Centrelink officials' unreasonable demands. Hughes, who escaped with his wife as flames swallowed their St Andrews home on Saturday, asked Mr Rudd to cut red tape. "Survivors unable to produce identification were told they needed at the very least a copy of a bank statement to prove who they were," he wrote. "Come back with a bank statement", they were told, and their applications for emergency relief would be processed. "Kevin, how are people who most likely have also lost their cars supposed to get ot their bank and back? Catch a bus? Beg a lift on a passing fire truck? And if these already deeply traumatised people managed to get to their bank, get a copy of their statement and get back to the relief centre, they were told it would take at least two days to get the money."
0

telecasterplayerFeb. 11, 2009 - 12:31PM JST

Australia wildfire death toll expected to pass 200

Actually, I just read an Aussie newspaper that said there could be upwards of 300 dead. About 100 people are unaccounted for in a town called Marysville. That's just one town out of dozens. What a terrible situation.
0

liresiasFeb. 11, 2009 - 01:22PM JST

Centrelink, with their notoriously unhelpful and unsympathetic work culture are the last people who should be sent to assist deeply traumatised victims such as these.
0

smartacusFeb. 11, 2009 - 04:24PM JST

Incredible that people would loot in such circumstances. Humanity at its worst.
0

illsayitFeb. 11, 2009 - 06:09PM JST

I dont think it was looting, and I certainly dont think it was arson.
0

some14someFeb. 11, 2009 - 06:18PM JST

Natural disaster worsened by man-made disaster, humanity at its worst.