Politics & Council
22 January, 2026
Real community spirt more important than playing politics
CONDITIONS more horrific than Black Saturday, a fire with a head of steam so strong that flames jumped the Calder Highway and wove an indiscriminate and menacing path of destruction.
Hundreds of volunteer Loddon firefighters urgently summonsed the other side of Bendigo to Harcourt when local brigades knew they would not beat the 2026 incarnation of Australia’s summer peril without help, and lots of it.
They saved some homes, others were sadly lost and families from Ravenswood South through Harcourt and over Mount Alexander are now being supported by family and friends through the stages of emotion that will emerge during this initial relief period and into recovery and rebuilding.
Country communities swinging in behind each other, not just on Loddon’s doorstep, but across so much of rural Victoria in the last week.
Appreciative people of the bush leaving thank you hampers for the firies, like they did at Boort and Pyramid Hill. Local businesses freely and willingly feeding firies, others volunteering to help as they were doing last night in Inglewood to clean the trucks that had been on the fire front for days on end.
In and around Harcourt and Castlemaine, the rallying and co-ordination of support locally and from afar - offers of food, clothes, accommodation for people and animals.
Country people putting those impacted by the fires first and foremost, in a way only they can fully embrace and achieve.
But this week of disaster was already becoming a political stouch ... even as Victorians woke on Friday to a catastrophic day of high temperatures and winds.
As if the anger with the State Government, in particular, was ready to erupt with the same ferocity as the fires themselves.
The day many feared did not deter proponents and opponents of the controversial emergency services tax from exchanging barbs on how the Country Fire Authority has, is or should be funded.
These matters are for discussion, no doubt even more robust debate, in the not-to-distant future.
But sadly, engaging in political combat during a disaster brings credit to neither side of the argument.
For the rank and file firies who had been in their thousands protesting the tax throughout 2025, they made the safety of people and communities their No 1 and only priority when the siren sounded last week.
No time for political point scoring when the menacing risk rears its head.
Timing is everything and to some observers, the arrival of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in central Victoria less than 48 hours after the first alarm at Ravenswood and his visit to Harcourt when the town’s resident were still unable to return home, or survey what was left of their properties, was very different to immediate government responses after previous disasters.
The announcement of relief and assistance packages was swift, welcome and one of the more timely responses by any government to a disaster. Certainly when compared with the summer storms of 2023-2024.
As more than 150 trucks battled to bring the fire under control Mr Albanese, with media in tow, was in the town. He had been heavily criticised for the Federal Government’s perceived slow responses to the Bondi Beach massacre before Christmas and perhaps did not want a repeat of outcry and derision.
There can be no, should not be, any criticism of the prompt commitment of both Federal and State Govenments for relief and assistance for those impacted by fires over the past week.
But it’s a fine line for leaders on effectiveness, visibility, and ability to co-ordinate an appropriate and balanced response in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Political careers can be defined or ended and the Australian landscape has many examples - Malcolm Fraser, who at the time was the nation’s second longest serving prime minister, lost the 1983 election against a backdrop of economic stress, drought and the Ash Wednesday fires weeks earlier.
John Brumby was ditched by Victorian voters the year after Black Saturday. A new model of disaster recovery and rebuilding implemented and the State Government more controlling of timing and direction.
And Scott Morrison never recovered from his Hawaiian holiday during the Black Summer fires of 2019-2020 (and the Covid years), to spectacularly lose last year’s federal election.
There was no anger towards Prime Minister Alabanese when he arrived in central Victoria with current premier Jacinta Allan last weekend - the premier’s own home had been threatened by fire days earlier - the visit and engagement with community was too well stage-managed for the pollies to be put “off script”
Was 48 hours after a fire the right time to go into a ravaged town? Political leaders of all pursuasions have rushed in with response to this latest natural disaster.
While there was little likelihood of public displays of anger towards Mr Albanese and Ms Allan last week, the premier has since incurred the wrath of other country people when visiting other parts of country Victoria.
Time will tell whether Ms Allan, who faces electors for the first time as premier when she heads to the polls in November, passes the four-pillar test.
Public expectation: In the wake of a major disaster, there are heightened expectations for a leader to provide a strong, visible, and effective response that prioritises the preservation of life, safety, and basic needs.
Legitimacy: Will the actions of government fall short of these expectations, their legitimacy and competence are challenged.
Visibility and empathy: Leaders who are physically present at the scene, show real empathy, and offer real comfort will invariably get the nod.
Communication: Effective and transparent communication is crucial during a crisis. A breakdown in communication or a failure to provide clear, trustworthy information can erode public confidence.
On “home patch”, Ms Allan has to balance her words and actions as the local member Elsewhere, it can be different story as has, sadly unfolded.
Right now, we need more examples like the thank you hampers for firies and kind and generous support for people impacted by the firies, families now going through an unexpected defining moment in life for which there can be now adequate planning.
Many are still in the immediate relief stage. Recovery and rebuilding are longer journeys.
The politics can and should be put aside, if even for only a couple of weeks.
That would be the respectful thing for all sides.