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Australia is in the midst of a bushfire crisis that will affect local communities for years.
And as, Chloe Lucas, Christine Eriksen and David Bowman write today all too often the disaster of having your home and possessions razed by fire is followed by the disaster of realising by how much you are underinsured. Their research on underinsured bushfire survivors highlights that the consequences aren’t just personal. They potentially harm local communities permanently, as those unable to rebuild move away.
And Tony Walker argues that Prime Minister Scott Morrison would do himself a favour by advancing a credible climate and land management policy that ensures the country is better prepared when the next disaster strikes.
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The consequences of underinsurance aren’t just personal. They potentially harm local communities permanently, as those unable to rebuild move away.
Dean Lewins/AAP
Chloe Lucas, University of Tasmania; Christine Eriksen, University of Wollongong; David Bowman, University of Tasmania
One lesson from Australia's past bushfire disasters is that too many homes are underinsured. But it's a lesson we've failed to learn.
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Scott Morrison’s response to the bushfires has been roundly criticised as being too slow and out of touch.
James Ross/AAP
Tony Walker, La Trobe University
As the bushfire crisis worsens, the prime minister's fallback positions on climate change and lack of urgency on a federal disaster plan are no longer tenable – the public is demanding more.
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Hazard reduction burns reduce bushfire fuel loads, but the current approach is not working.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Rod Keenan, University of Melbourne
Relatively little has changed since the Black Saturday tragedy. It is as though Australia suffers amnesia when it comes to bushfire preparedness.
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Environment + Energy
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Dale Dominey-Howes, University of Sydney
As this horrific summer of disaster continues to unfold in coming weeks, we need to overhaul our emergency management plan.
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Science + Technology
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Shane Keating, UNSW
There's much more to waves than the part you see at the beach.
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Mike Lee, Flinders University
The asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs sparked global firestorms. On land, only creatures that could evade fire survived
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Health + Medicine
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David Mackey, University of Western Australia
Too much studying and staying indoors are more likely to blame for the rise in the number of children with myopia, or short-sightedness.
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Amanda Gearing, Queensland University of Technology
Research on other natural disasters tells us there's a long road ahead for survivors of the current bushfire crisis – but there are some key lessons.
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Arts + Culture
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John Willsteed, Queensland University of Technology
Surf music was born in 1960. Its twangy instrumentals can be traced through many artists from The Shadows and Fleetwood Mac to Australia's The Sunnyboys and The Cruel Sea.
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RMIT University City Campus, Melbourne, Australian Capital Territory, 3000, Australia — RMIT University
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The Great Hall, The Quadrangle, University of Sydney Camperdown, NSW 2006, Sydney, Australian Capital Territory, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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