Scott Morrison says Australia will leave Amazon firefighting to others

PM Scott Morrison says Australia is keeping an eye on efforts to fight wildfires in the Amazon but needs its bushfire resources at home over the summer.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media at the South Australian Liberal party Annual General Meeting at the Adelaide Convention Centre in Adelaide.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to deport an Iraqi refugee who indecently assaulted a three-year-old girl. Source: AAP

Australia is likely to leave the battle against escalating fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest to others, focusing instead on potential disasters closer to home.

The fires have drawn international concern because of the Amazon's importance to the environment.

The G7, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended as an invited guest, .

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also promised Brazil an $18 million donation to help.

But Mr Morrison says Australia would merely keep an eye on pledges towards the disaster.

"That should be well within the means of those countries for which this is their primary sphere," he told reporters in Biarritz, France, where the G7 summit was held.

"This is not directly in our sphere but it is the lungs of the world and we understand it's important."
Smoke rising from the fire at the Amazon forest in Novo Progresso in the state of Para, Brazil
Smoke rising from the fire at the Amazon forest in Novo Progresso in the state of Para, Brazil (AAP) Source: AAP
Australia has a track record of responding first to disasters within its region.

"The Boxing Day tsunami, things like this, Australia has been quick out of the blocks," he said.

"Whether they're in Indonesia or elsewhere in the Pacific, we are the first responders and Australia takes our responsibility in our sphere very seriously."
Brazilian authorities have not asked Australia for help but a Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman told AAP on Monday the Australian embassy in Brazil's capital Brasilia was keeping watch with "deep concern".

"The world's rainforests are a wealth of natural heritage and biodiversity. Australia knows too well the human and natural cost of fire," she said.
A boy holds a poster "the Amazon is on fire" (El Amazonas est en llamas in Spanish) during the 'S.O.S Amazonia' protest in response to Amazon rainforest fires.
A boy holds a poster "the Amazon is on fire" (El Amazonas est en llamas in Spanish) during the 'S.O.S Amazonia' protest in response to Amazon rainforest fires. Source: Getty
Mr Morrison acknowledged Australia did have a lot of expertise and equipment to fight large fires but noted the domestic summer fire season was approaching and that capability would be needed at home.

Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong has said the government should be proactive in offering practical help, arguing Mr Morrison shouldn't "sit on his hands until he's asked".

Overseas requests for help from Australian firefighters typically occur through diplomatic channels.


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2 min read
Published 27 August 2019 8:48am
Updated 27 August 2019 9:02am


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