this is written by a lady from the RED CROSS
This SHOULD have been Clovers response letter to the petition signers yesterday which In my view would have been very much welcomed by all petition signers and everyone affected by the unprecedented bushfires as well as visitors to Sydney:
(Please go the the petition site to read the original letter from Clover)

Dear petition signers,

I have been moved by the outpouring of support and care the community has shown for those affected by the bushfires.

While we've seen some of the worst of extreme fire, we've also seen the best of humanity – NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers rushed to protect people and property, and communities have come together to look after each other.

And many, including you, have looked for ways governments can further support those doing it really tough at this time. I appreciate your calls to cancel our New Year’s Eve fireworks and reallocate the funding to bushfire relief.

I also share your deep sympathies and recently directed Council to donate over $600,000 to bushfire and drought relief, as well as sending our trucks and staff to help emergency services with clean-up and recovery efforts.

Our fireworks are planned 15 months in advance and most of the budget – which is largely allocated to crowd safety and cleaning measures – has already been spent. And with just weeks to go, many have already booked hotels and restaurants and planned their trip to come to Sydney. This event generates $130 million for the state economy, which helps many people.

It is for this reason that we are still going ahead with a NYE event in Sydney. However, myself and Sydney Council have unanimously decided to cancel the fireworks and replace them with a laser show. We also encourage all visitors to the fireworks, whether they are Sydney siders or from interstate or overseas to actively participate in the NYE event by using the torch light of their smart phones at midnight to create a ‘Sea of Light’ and to help create a very unique and memorable experience like never seen before. An experience that is more community focused and demonstrates to the world our spirit of Aussie comradery and support.

This new event has a lot of benefits as it would still generate the estimated state revenue but also be the start of a new era of NYE celebrations. We want to set an example to Australia and the world showing that things can change and a difference can be made. We are sure that every visitor as well as Sydney resident would be very happy and proud to support this new event.

Over the last fortnight however we, as a Council, have been moved to do even more.

We have committed to harnessing the enormous power of this new event, which brings a million people together around our harbour, to raise more money for the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.

In all marketing materials, during the broadcast and on the night, we will be reminding those who visit our harbour and who watch at home to give generously. We will also encourage businesses to donate a percentage from their NYE revenue to one of the supported Funds.

The event will also support our existing charity partner, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), as we commence 2020: The Year of Welcome and Change.

New Year’s Eve unites people from all over the world with a message of hope for the year to come. I’m glad that this new event will do that while helping support those in need.

As we reflect on the tragic devastation of the bushfires, we have to acknowledge that successive Federal Governments have shamefully presided over a failed climate policies. Australia’s emissions have been going up since 2014 and these bushfires are just one of the recent extreme weather events made worse by catastrophic climate change.

Earlier this year the City declared a Climate Emergency, calling on the Federal Government to reintroduce a price on carbon to meet the Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets, and establishing a Just Transition Authority to ensure Australians employed in fossil fuel industries find appropriate alternate employment.

We have also recently signed a contract to use 100% renewable electricity from July next year, and will reduce our emissions by 70% on 2006 levels by 2024, four years ahead of schedule.

As long as I am Lord Mayor I will lead a Council committed to taking real and meaningful climate action, and I will continue to push State and Federal Governments to do the same. And I look forward to celebrate NYE with you in a different way and paving the way for the future.

If you would like to donate to our bushfire appeal you can do so here:
https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-bushfires and I would also encourage you to spend time on Change.org calling on the Federal Government to take urgent action on climate change.

Clover.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore, City of Sydney