Australia’s federal government says, volunteer firefighters in New
South Wales will get compensation for loss of earnings after spending
time away from jobs to battle bushfires in the state.
The offer of up to A six thousand dollars for privately-employed
volunteers follows weeks of wrangling.
PM Scott Morrison who had previously rejected the idea said it should
not lead to permanent pay.
More than one hundred fires are continuing to burn, with the largest
near Sydney.
Authorities fear a heat wave forecast to sweep across Australia in the
coming days could see the bushfires escalate.
Mr Morrison’s compensation announcement came after weeks of criticism by opposition parties.
The federal government says other states and territories could bring
in similar schemes.
The compensation scheme is a joint initiative between the federal
government and New South Wales.
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