The federal government has agreed to make funding available for payments to volunteer firefighters in NSW, capped at $6,000
"This announcement provides employees of small and medium-sized businesses and self-employed volunteers with the same level of support," Mr Morrison said in a statement on Sunday.The federal government would cover the payments, which would be administered through the NSW government.
Canberra has invited other states and territories to enter a similar payment scheme, but this has not yet been taken up. The Morrison government has announced that rural New South Wales fire service volunteers will be compensated for loss of income, after weeks of pressure."The early and prolonged nature of this fire season has made a call beyond what is typically made on our volunteer firefighters," Mr Morrison said.
The president of NSW's Volunteer Fire Fighters Association, Mick Holton, last week said members have racked up expenses, including on petrol spent driving to fire fronts, and been forced to crowd-fund for smoke masks.Almost 110 fires were burning in NSW on Saturday, including large blazes ringing Sydney at Gospers Mountain and Green Wattle Creek.
Difficult NSW bushfire conditions are set to return over the coming days, with RFS crews staying in the field to battle fires.Fire conditions are expected to again deteriorate in the coming week amid rising temperatures and dry winds, peaking on New Year's Eve.
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