The Commonwealth Government will provide up to $550,000 specifically to assist with aerial firefighting capabilities in Western Australia and South Australia.
This funding will be directed to the following initiatives:
A contribution of $300,000 towards the fixed costs of using two Helltac aircraft and an enhanced aerial fixed wing firefighting capability in Western Australia.
The provision of $250,000 to assist with the cost of having a medium fire bombing helicopter available for deployment in South Australia.
The respective state governments will be meeting the remaining fixed costs and all of the operational costs.
While firefighting is a state and territory responsibility, due to the extremely serious bushfires and the ongoing fire risk situation the nation is experiencing the Commonwealth is prepared to provide this assistance on a one-off basis.
These initiatives form part of an overall contribution of up to $8 million that the Commonwealth is making to a national aerial firefighting capability for this fire season. It includes providing half the leasing and locating costs of bringing five Erickson Aircrane helitankers to Australia.
The specific funding to be allocated to the Western Australian and South Australian initiatives does recognise the fact that the helitankers have been required to operate almost non-stop in the eastern states due the exceptionally dangerous bushfires that have occurred and continue to burn in those states.
Notwithstanding where the helitankers are operating at present, under the national aerial firefighting arrangements, the helitankers will be available to be deployed on a national basis as needed.