Bushfires and climate change

Yet, to say it again, at times like these people feel somehow that someone must be to blame, and the principal target has been our Prime Minister, who so far as we know lit no fires but went to Hawai'i for his holidays, in retrospect an unfortunate decision. What caused the fires? A long dry spell, though not the longest or driest on record, years of forest litter, other fires' spreading, dry lightning and arson. No doubt the promised Royal Commission will try to put numbers to all these potential causes. They will be rubbery.

So what would I do? First, make sure that there is a grassed area of real size between settlements and forests. Keep the grass down with sheep or goats. Second, insist that people who want to build in forests have their houses insured. If they don't, then they should not be given publicly-funded help if their house is destroyed. Third, keep the forest litter down as far as is possible. Fourth, stop thinking that our native trees are wonderful things. They're not, for they need fire to regenerate, and fire is bad for human beings. If you plant trees, choose deciduous ones, which are much better for Australians.

Will that stop fires? No, they are part of our eco-system. But if properly managed, these measures would reduce the frequency and heat of the bushfires we will have in the future, save some lives and some property.

ENDNOTE: James Murdoch has apparently criticised his father's media interests for denying the link between climate change and bushfires, despite the 'obvious evidence'. That's what I think the ABC said this morning. I can't find an exact quote on line. But if he did say that, it would be nice if he said what the obvious evidence is. As far as I can see, there isn't any at all.