AUS PM announces disaster payments for communities affected by major bushfire

29/12/2024 15:28

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced emergency disaster payments for people affected by a major bushfire in the country's southeast.

Albanese on Sunday assessed the damage caused by the ongoing bushfire in the Grampians National Park, approximately 230 km west of Melbourne, along with the Premier of the state of Victoria, Jacinta Allan.



Albanese told reporters that federal and state government disaster recovery payments will be available from Monday for workers and sole traders directly affected by the fire, providing up to 13 weeks worth of income support.



He said, "This has been a devastating fire event. We live in a country that's got harsh conditions, the truth is they are becoming more frequent and more intense."



The bushfire was ignited by a lightning strike on Dec. 6 and has burnt through over 70,000 hectares of farmland, national park and private property.