APS volunteer firefighters get paid leave boost

Facing mounting calls for government assistance for volunteer firefighters, many of whom have been battling outbreaks for weeks, Mr Morrison has directed that all volunteer firefighters in Australian Public Service ranks be permanently offered at least 20 working days paid leave, with the option of additional leave as needed.

"With bushfire seasons starting earlier, one of the things I've heard on the ground is that some people are dipping into their other leave entitlements to stay out there battling blazes. Today's announcement is about ensuring our volunteer firefighters can keep focused on the job at hand," the Prime Minister said.

Mr Morrison said the directive would apply to around 150,000 public servants working at more than 100 departments and agencies, including major employers like Australia Post, and would cover voluntary work for all types of emergency services, not just firefighting.

The Prime Minster said there was a wide variety of arrangements in the more than 100 enterprise agreements covering public servants, and his decision would set a new minimum standard.

The government said the changes bring volunteer leave arrangements for Commonwealth public servants in line with those provided for Australian Defence Force reservists, and Mr Morrison urged other employers to match the change.

"We call on other large employers to follow our lead and we commend those who have already put in place more generous volunteer leave arrangements," he said.

Some major employers have preempted the government.

On Monday the ANZ Banking Group announced that it had extended special leave for staff volunteering for the emergency services.

"We have...provided additional leave for our employees who volunteer with emergency services as they may need to spend more time in the field this summer," ANZ's retail banking general managing director, Kath Bray, said.

Calls for some form of assistance or compensation for firefighters have intensified as the bushfire crisis has persisted over many weeks, consuming the leave entitlements of many volunteers and forcing others who are self-employed to fight fires with little or no income coming in.

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"We know this does not address the situation for self-employed and small businesses directly, but it does mean those working for larger organisations can step in and take some of the load from those volunteers who work for themselves or small businesses," Mr Morrison said. "It isn't the solution to the whole issue, but it certainly is a practical assistance."

The Volunteer Fire Fighters Association, which represents volunteer firefighters in NSW, has called for greater support amid concerns members have given up income and dug into their own pockets to pay for fuel and other expenses in order to combat blazes.

But NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has rejected such proposals, arguing they undermine the volunteer ethos of the RFS.

"Don't do the volunteers a disservice by suggesting that you're going to pay them, because then they're no longer volunteers and that's absolutely the sentiment that I'm getting loud and clear everywhere I go," Mr Fitzsimmons said.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese welcomed the government's announcement of extra leave entitlements for firefighting public servants, but warned that it would not assist many volunteers who are self-employed or working in the private sector.

"Many private sector workers, self-employed workers, contractors and family business owners have been fighting fires, not just for days or weeks, but for months," Mr Albanese said. "These firefighters have to pay bills and put food on the table for their families."

He said it was "common sense" that some form of assistance was needed.

"This shouldn't be a big issue," Mr Albanese said. "This is common sense. If someone has not had income for a period of months because they have been fighting fires, [that] is unsustainable."

Mr Morrison has undertaken a whirlwind of visits to firegrounds across NSW and South Australia since arriving back in Australia late on Saturday from a family holiday in Hawaii.

The Prime Minister's absence from the country last week during the height of the bushfire emergency drew widespread criticism, and last Friday he broke his silence to say he deeply regretted "any offence caused to any of the many Australians affected by the terrible bushfires by my taking leave with family at this time".

The Prime Minister said the government was in "constant contact" with its state and territory counterparts and fire chiefs, and was ready to provide "whatever extra help they ask of us".

"I'm going to continue to follow the lead of the priorities that are being set by those who are tasked and have the responsibility of fighting the fires," he said.