@greystone; the tall red bar for 1974-75 indicating widespread fires for that year drew the following explanation from your 'expert':
"... As can be seen, by far the largest area burned occurred during 1974-75, at over 100 million hectares (close to 15% of the total area of Australia). Curiously, though, according to Australia Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) data, the 1974-75 bushfires occurred during a year with above-average precipitation and below-average temperature. …"
That 'expert' didn't even do the research necessary to establish that what was burnt was mostly grassed country and savannah scrubland - NOT heavily forested areas in heavily populated areas such as those burnt since September 2019.
The author's selective sampling of data [eg, 20'N & 20'S to represent 'the tropics to prove global cooling], is mischievous to say the least.
As for your rainfall chart, even it does NOT divide Australia into North / South and for that reason alone is misleading:
