Australia news live: total fire bans in parts of Victoria, NSW and SA amid autumn heat blast

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Early voting centres have opened this morning across NSW ahead of the state election’s official polling day next Saturday.

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Early voting is open for the 2023 NSW State election.

To view the eligibility criteria, and early voting centre locations and opening times visit: https://t.co/oaFDmOvgb2 pic.twitter.com/u4JiQTKlqK

&mdash; NSW Electoral Commission (@NSWElectoralCom) March 17, 2023

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AAP reports that NSW electoral commissioner John Schmidt expects the early voting centres will see strong demand in the run-up to the day of reckoning on 25 March.

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The state electoral commission has a checker on its website to find polling booths, and early voting centres. Check eligibility for early voting here.

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For a run down of the key differences between Labor and the Coalition, have a look at this piece from the Guardian’s Michael McGowan and Tamsin Rose.

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The fire danger ratings in parts of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales have reached “high” or “extreme” levels today.

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An extreme rating means anyone living in those areas is advised to make sure their bushfire survival plan is ready and their properties are prepared, as any fires in those places could “spread quickly and be extremely dangerous.”

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Here’s a summary of conditions.

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Victoria

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Extreme fire danger in regions of Wimmera, South West, Central and North Central.

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Total fire bans in the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Northern Country, North Central and Central, which includes Melbourne and Geelong.

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A Total Fire Ban is in force for the MALLEE, WIMMERA, SOUTH WEST, NORTHERN COUNTRY, NORTH CENTRAL and CENTRAL Fire Districts today – Saturday 18 March.
Check what you can and can't do at https://t.co/qTT4P4ne58 pic.twitter.com/ec65Bic2kP

&mdash; cfa_updates (@CFA_Updates) March 17, 2023

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South Australia

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Extreme fire danger for regions of Flinders, mid-north and Riverland. Total fire bans across these three regions, which includes the areas of Flinders Ranges, Mount Remarkable, Orroroo Carrieton, Peterborough, Port Augusta, Clare and Gilbert Valley, Goyder, Light Regional Council, Mallala, Northern Areas, Port Pirie City and District, Wakefield, Berri Barmera, Loxton Waikerie and Renmark Paringa

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REMINDER : TOTAL FIRE BANS have been declared for 18 March 2023 in the following Fire Ban Districts: Flinders – Extreme, Mid North – Extreme, Riverland – Extreme. Refer https://t.co/kEAePm5k7Q pic.twitter.com/fqAxuA36bs

&mdash; Country Fire Service (@CFSAlerts) March 17, 2023

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New South Wales

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High fire danger ratings across much of the central and south eastern areas of the state. Total fire ban in the central region, which includes Goulburn Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan, Yass Valley and Queanbeyan-Palerang.

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A total fire ban is now in place for the Southern Ranges. High fire danger is forecast for much of NSW. Currently 29 fires burning across the state, 5 yet to be contained. It's important to know your fire risk and what to do if threatened by fire. #NSWRFS https://t.co/LwkZx6TxzA

&mdash; NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) March 17, 2023

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My colleague Peter Hannam has this story this morning on how that heat has pushed its way to the east of the country.

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Good morning and happy Saturday. It’s Graham Readfearn here to take you through our live news coverage with many of us feeling this autumn blast of heat.

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There are total fire bans in parts of Victoria, NSW, South Australia and extreme fire danger ratings for many areas. A bit more detail about that to come.

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There’s some heat on the way for Melbourne with a top of 37C forecast, with 33C for Brisbane and Sydney getting 30C.

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There’s also news this morning that much-loved Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill is being treated for stage-three blood cancer.

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Before we get into today, a quick summary of yesterday.

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• Millions of fish are dead in another mass kill in the lower Darling-Baaka river near Menindee, in New South Wales’ far west.

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• The US state department approved the sale of up to 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles to Australia, to the tune of $1.3bn.

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• Former Labor minister and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett said the $368bn Aukus nuclear submarine deal was the “most costly and risky” ever made by an Australian government.

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• Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Australian banks are “well placed” to withstand some vulnerability.

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• The Productivity Commission said in its five-yearly report that “the often touted ‘four-day week’ is that much harder to achieve”.

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• Four people were arrested after climate protesters occupied Dominic Perrottet’s office.

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• Time magazine released its list of the world’s greatest places for 2023 and the only Australian capital to make the list was Brisbane.

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OK Saturday, let’s see what you’ve got.

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