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Scott Morrison Sparks Anger After Saying Volunteer Firefighters Shouldn’t Get Paid

Scott Morrison Sparks Anger After Saying Volunteer Firefighters Shouldn’t Get Paid

Some firies have been doing 12-hour shifts and haven't seen their families in weeks, but Mr Morrison says 'they want to be there'.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

There are some firefighters around Australia who have been putting in mammoth shifts to protect homes and lives from raging infernos.

These men and women, who are putting their lives on the line, have been away from their own homes and families for weeks as the horror start to the bushfire season continues.

But when Prime Minister Scott Morrison was asked whether the government should step in and provide some financial support to these brave Australians, his answer left some people fuming.

Austinmer RFB/Facebook

Mr Morrison told a press conference: "I was speaking with the [NSW RFS] commissioner on the weekend out at Wilberforce - where we have the megafire out in the northwest at the moment - we were talking through the crew rotations and the fact is that these crews, yes they're tired, but they also want to be out there defending their communities.

"They also want to be out there.

"We do all we can to rotate the shifts to give them those breaks but equally, in many cases, you've got to hold them back to make sure they get that rest. I thank them all for what they're doing."

He was specifically asked whether volunteer firefighters should be paid for their efforts but the Prime Minister said that wasn't necessary.

NSW RFS/Facebook

"We are constantly looking at ways we can better facilitate the volunteer effort but to professionalise that, at that scale, is not a matter that has previously been accepted and is not a matter that's currently under consideration by the government," he said.

"I can reassure everyone the nationally co-ordinated effort and the specific state efforts leading the response in each of their jurisdictions has been incredibly professionally deployed."

The Prime Minister added that firefighters have been assisted by international teams over recent weeks and that has taken the pressure off them.

There are more than 2,700 firefighters around New South Wales alone, not to mention the other teams in every other state and territory battling bushfires at the moment.

NSW RFS/Facebook

But Mr Morrison has been warned by former NSW Fire and Rescue chief Greg Mullins that unless something changes for these firies, it could get nasty.

"Everyone is getting pretty worn out and, in my experience, that's where all the bad stuff happens," he told AAP.

"The troops, if they're worn out, you get to a stage where it just overwhelms everyone, so that's a worry."

Mr Mullins added that many firies have been taking time off work and employers will eventually have to draw a line in the sand.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Australia