NIMBY

Have you wondered how it is that Australians would continue to elect governments that considered their continued viability on the land just an annoyance? I certainly have. Scott Morrison is nearly as demented as The Manchurian President. There has to be a reason.

Turns out, it's pretty obvious from a single bit of demographic data:

Australia is one of the most urbanised nations in the world, with an oft-quoted figure of 85% of the population living within 50km of the coast of our very large continent, with vast empty areas in the middle.

IOW, so long as it's the bush (literally, the mostly empty quarters) that's burning, the city folk don't give a shit. Since most of the voters do live in the urban metropoli, it's no skin off their noses. This is a case where the tyranny of the majority will, in due time. destroy that majority.