Tasmanian volunteer firefighters will be eligible for financial support from the Australian Government for loss of income while fighting this season’s bushfires.
Volunteers can apply for assistance of $300 a day, with a total cap of $6,000. The financial support is not means tested and is tax-free.
Self-employed volunteers who can demonstrate loss of income, and volunteers employed by small and medium businesses who can demonstrate loss of income, are eligible if they are deployed to respond to bushfires for more than 10 days.
The scheme will be administered by the Tasmanian Government and will be in place by the end of January 2020, and the Department is working with the Tasmania Fire Service on the process for eligible volunteers to apply.
This financial support is in addition to the existing support available for individuals and communities affected by bushfires.
The Tasmanian Government also already provides unlimited paid leave to all State public service employees who volunteer as firefighters or for other emergency services.
This adds another layer of support to these volunteers who turn out – year in year out – to work alongside our career firefighters in times of emergency.
Our hardworking firefighters are doing an incredible job on the frontline, protecting lives and properties across Tasmania, and I know the community will join me in thanking them for all they do.
We thank the Australian Government for this support for our volunteer firefighters.