'Haven't taken it seriously': Calls for action on Australia's most deadly natural disaster

Minimum thermal safety standards in rentals, published data on heat-related deaths and bushfire-style plans for extreme heat are needed to address what a new New South Wales state agency says is Australia's most deadly yet most preventable natural disaster. Extreme heat caused more deaths in Australia between 2000-2018 than all other natural hazards combined, according to the NSW government's Net Zero Commission. The agency set up two years ago is calling for reforms to the state's planning laws and emergency responses in a new report to the Minister for Climate Change Energy and Environment Penny Sharpe. Extreme heat is not being taken seriously enough, one of the commissioners, Professor Andy Pitman, told 702 ABC Sydney."It's mostly a serious issue because we haven't planned for it," Professor Pitman said."It's not necessarily a massive threat if we've planned for it and we've adapted to it It's that we haven't taken it seriously." Among the commission's recommendations were for NSW residents to have personal extreme heat plans, similar to a bushfire or flood plan. "Think about where in their house is cooler