This archive report was first published on 29 December 2019.
As Australia continues to battle devastating bushfires, the government has announced a compensation scheme for rural fire service volunteers who have spent at least 10 days fighting the blazes in New South Wales.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the scheme, which offers payments of up to Aus$300 ($209) per day for a maximum of Aus$6,000 per person, is designed to protect volunteers from financial loss.
"While I know RFS volunteers don't seek payment for their service, I don't want to see volunteers or their families unable to pay bills, or struggle financially as a result of the selfless contribution they are making," Morrison said.
The scheme will be rolled out across other Australian states and territories if local authorities request assistance, with Morrison saying "They run their own shows; they know what their challenges are" of the state governments.
Volunteers who are self-employed or work for small- and medium-sized businesses are eligible for the scheme, which is expected to cost about Aus$50 million in NSW alone.
Published on December 29, 2019
