CANBERRA (Dispatches) - Raging bushfires across Australia are threatening to drag down the economy as the country’s tourism and consumer sectors take a hit, said the chief economist of BetaShares Capital.
At least 24 people across the country have died from the wild fires, according to official numbers, and the disaster has so far killed half a billion animals and thousands have evacuated from their homes.
David Bassanese, chief economist at BetaShares Capital warned Monday that beyond the devastating loss of lives and property, Australians should also brace for a slowdown in its economy.
"Certainly, from a broader economic perspective, it’s not helpful,” said Bassanese. "So possibly, from a macro perspective, it could have a negative impact on consumer confidence, which at the moment is very vulnerable — it’s been the big drag on economic growth.”
As of Sunday, tens of thousands of homes in both New South Wales and Victoria states were without power, Reuters reported.
Despite large-scale military and police effort in providing supplies and evacuating coastal towns, two people remain to be missing, according to Reuters.
It’s important that the Australian government can make efforts in implementing global climate change policies in place, Bassanese said, urging Canberra to be at the forefront of combating climate change.
"In reality, Australia is going to be one of those countries” that would be most negatively affected by climate change, he said.
Australia has been battling wildfires across much of its east coast for months, and experts have pointed out that climate change is a key factor to the three-year long drought that has left the country’s bushland tinder-dry and susceptible to fires.