The Bushfire Catastrophe: What Now?

Overview

As we come to terms with the irreversible destruction that the horrific bushfires have caused (and continue to cause) across Australia in the past few months, one question keeps cropping up: what now? To help answer that question, the Sydney Opera House's Talks & Ideas program will take on the bushfire crisis with two special panel discussions — both centred around what to do next.

Panellists will seek to answer that burning question across two 90-minute sessions on Sunday, February 16. The discussion will revolve around recovery and long-term solutions for our communities, land and wildlife, and examine both ongoing relief action and more permanent action needed for the future.

The distinct panels each include community leaders, policy experts, academics and mental health professionals — some of whom were directly affected by the fires.

The first session features Lorena Allam, The Guardian's Indigenous affairs editor and a Gamilaraay and Yawalaraay woman. Sitting alongside Allam will be Christine Morgan (CEO of the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Adviser to Scott Morrison), Doctor Larry Vogelnest (Senior Veterinarian at Taronga Zoo) and Elizabeth Mossop (UTS Dean of Design, Architecture and Building). Rounding out the panel is Findabed.com founder Erin Riley — which provides bushfire effected Australians a safe place to stay — and Milkwood permaculture co-founder Nick Bitar.

Session two will be moderated by editor of The Guardian Lenore Taylor and include CEO of Firesticks and Bundjalung man Oliver Costello, an Indigenous-led network focused on cultural burning and First Nations land management practices. Plus, John Connor (CEO of the Carbon Market Institute and former CEO of the Australian Climate Institute), David Bowman (University of Tasmania Professor of Pyrogeography) and Danielle Celermajer (UTS Professor of Sociology and Social Policy) are all on the docket, too.

Both sessions are absolutely free to attend, too — though registration is a must over here. For those still looking to give to the cause, donation buckets for bushfire relief will available at the door on the day.

Image: Leticia Almeida.