Aussie Businessman Andrew Forrest Makes $70 Million Bushfire Donation

Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest has made the biggest donation to the Australian bushfire crisis so far.

The Australian businessman has pledged a whopping AUD $70 million (£37m / US $48m) for a bushfire recovery package that will help people on the frontlines, as well as those rebuilding their lives.

Through his Minderoo Foundation, the funds will be split into different categories so that they can make the most impact, according to ABC.

PA

Fifty million dollars (£26m / US $34m) has been allocated to drawing up a 'national blueprint' to look at future approaches to battling and mitigating bushfires.

Ten million dollars (£5m / US $6.8m) will spent on developing a volunteer army, with the intention of deploying 1,200 people from the mining and agriculture sectors to areas already affected by bushfires to help the local communities.

The final $10m will go to communities that have been hit hard by the bushfires, in accordance with the Australian Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Mr Forrest said: "With incredible courage and determination, Australians have united to help those devastated by these bushfires.

"We recognise that we don't have all the answers, but we want to understand what communities need and do our bit to help them."

If you want to help those affected by the devastating bushfires, click here.

Topics: News, Bushfires, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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