NSW: PM urged to extend bushfire payments to all volunteers

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NSW: PM urged to extend bushfire payments to all volunteers

SYDNEY, Feb 14 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard has been urged to extend the government'sex-gratia payments already available to firefighters who battled the NSW blazes to allother volunteers.

NSW Premier Bob Carr accused the government of failing to recognise the contributionsof some 3,000 volunteers from other emergency organisations who took part in the firefightingeffort.

The federal government last week announced it would compensate volunteer firefighterswho suffered financial losses during the 22-day campaign.

In a letter to the prime minister, Mr Carr said restricting the payments to firefighterswas unfair.

"This clearly discriminates against up to 3,000 volunteers of the other emergency servicesin NSW who will be excluded from access to these benefits," he said.

The NSW State Emergency Service fielded up to 500 volunteers each day, providing meals,servicing firefighting aircraft, conducting evacuations and transport support, Mr Carrsaid.

"It would be unfair if these volunteers were to be excluded from this scheme as theywere required to perform functions similar to those of many volunteer firefighters," hesaid.

"Some of them will have suffered financial hardship in the same measure as their firefightingcolleagues."

Mr Carr said his letter to Mr Howard, dated February 12, followed representations bySES director-general, Brigadier Phillip McNamara.

Under the federal government's compensation offer, volunteer firefighters who lostincome as a result of fighting blazes between December 24 and January 16 can make a claimfor a payment from Centrelink.

The volunteer firefighters can claim up to $160 a day.

AAP ls/arb/mjm/br

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES CARR