Around 100 people formed a circle at the Queen Victoria Building on January 5 to call for urgent government intervention on the fire emergency, support for the firefighters, and real action to combat climate change. The vigil was organised by Extinction Rebellion Sydney.
A leaflet distributed to passers-by was headed, “Actions speak louder than ‘thoughts and prayers’.”
It quoted Greg Mullins, a former NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner, stating: “If it’s not the time now to speak about climate change and what’s driving these events, when?”
“It’s very clear. Any fire service will tell you that the windows for hazard reduction through the winter are getting narrower and narrower.
“Now, a slight lift in temperature overall, average temperature, means the extremes are more extreme. The scientists are very clear, the numbers are very clear,” the flyer stated.