Volunteer firefighter groups to raise issue of payment with state government soon

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday he planned to pay commonwealth public servants four weeks annual leave so they could volunteer as fire fighters.

Boat Harbour brigade chief Trevor Duniam, who has been a volunteer for 26 years, said the move could cause tension.

"I can't see how you can separate volunteers without causing a bit of ill-feeling.

"One gets paid and the one next to him is off the street and is in a private business, and has a family and kids and isn't getting paid."

A spokesperson for the state government said any initiative to support "our magnificent volunteers" would be considered.

"As last season's fires showed, Tasmania had a significant and committed cadre of volunteers that put their hands up when needed.

"There are over 5000 volunteer members of the TFS, and last season over 2000 were deployed or indicated they were available outside their own brigade areas."

Tasmanian Volunteer Fire Brigades Association president Robert Atkins said the organisation would raise the issue with the state government soon.

"It will be a hard one to resolve.

"It will drive a rift between volunteers, because some will get paid and others won't."

The Tasmanian Retained Volunteer Firefighters Association president Andrew Taylor said it was time for cool heads, deep breathing and strategic thinking.

"Rather than a knee-jerk reaction, we need to work together.

"The fire fighting effort is a state based issue, so we need the states to get together with all the key stakeholders and partners involved, like the parks and forestry partners."

Burnie Mayor Steve Kons did not support paying local government volunteers.

"If you're volunteering, you're doing it without the expectation of payment and it's up to the people who employ you as to how to reward you.

"Volunteers don't have an expectation of it being a paid situation."