Australia is investing an additional $12 million in bushfire readiness and emergency-worker wellbeing as El Niño affects parts of the country during its already-underway high-risk weather season.
The package will fund improvements to the Australia Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) and continued operation of the National Bushfire Intelligence Capability (NBIC) and North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information Service (NAFI). State and territory authorities, together with the Bureau of Meteorology, support the AFDRS.
The government says CSIRO manages NBIC to give officials a nationally consistent picture of bushfire risk. Officials can use that information to spot areas at greater risk and inform decisions on preparation, mitigation and investment.
Charles Darwin University runs NAFI, which provides fire updates in northern and remote parts of Australia. Government bodies, Indigenous ranger groups and land managers draw on the service to track fire activity and plan hazard reduction.
The package also funds mental health and wellbeing services from Fortem for emergency responders. Government support for the program will run through December 2027. AusAlert and Temporary Disaster Roaming are due to come online this high-risk season, providing public updates and connectivity during emergencies.
Funding for the National Aerial Firefighting Fleet is also set to continue for three years, with the government saying this will help aircraft reach disaster sites rapidly. The measures are intended to support communities, first responders and other emergency-service workers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia is prepared to respond, while acknowledging officials cannot determine where or when the next emergency or disaster will occur. He said scientific warnings had long pointed to extreme weather becoming more frequent and intense. Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said worsening bushfire hazards and severe weather linked to El Niño make advance planning vital for community protection.
