Australia faces a multi-front crisis this Monday, 12th January, with devastating bushfires in Victoria, renewed flood threats in Queensland, and a growing cultural controversy at the Adelaide Festival.
Victoria's Bushfire Emergency Continues
Major bushfires in Victoria are expected to burn for weeks, having already claimed at least one life and destroyed hundreds of structures. The Longwood blaze in the state's north remains a significant concern for firefighting crews.
While forecasters indicate cooler conditions may offer some relief to emergency efforts, the damage for many small communities is already severe and irreversible. The full scale of the destruction is still being assessed.
Queensland on Alert for Further Flooding
After days of severe weather warnings, ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji was downgraded to a tropical low as it crossed the Queensland coast. However, authorities warn the danger is far from over, with the state bracing for potentially more devastating floods.
The storm's impact has been widespread, with thousands of residents left without power. According to AAP reports, emergency crews are working around the clock to restore electricity to the affected areas.
Adelaide Festival Board in Turmoil
A separate storm is brewing in South Australia's arts scene. The chair of the Adelaide Festival board, Tracey Whiting, has resigned following a contentious decision to remove Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the 2026 writers' week programme.
Whiting's departure comes after three other board members stepped down on Sunday, signalling deep internal divisions over the move. The festival has yet to issue a detailed public statement on the resignations.
In lighter news, the Golden Globes ceremony is set to commence in the United States later today, with rolling coverage of the awards and red carpet highlights expected.
