Minister pushes to start paying volunteer firefighters
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing pressure from within his own ranks to pay volunteer firefighters, as one Minister questions the sustainability of unpaid brigades working for months on end.
Fires in New South Wales and South Australia are also continuing to burn after a catastrophic start to the fire season, and there areannounced on Tuesday that volunteer firefighters who were Government employees would be given an extra four weeks of paid leaveBut Mr Chester told ABC News Breakfast there was a need to have a conversation about compensating volunteers further.
He said it did not seem sustainable to expect firefighters to volunteer their time for"days, weeks and months" as a changing climate extends the fire season. "Can it be sustainable in the longer-term when it's actually required under these changed climatic conditions, to be out there in the field for days, weeks and months?" he said.
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