CANBERRA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government is investing an additional 12 million Australian dollars (about 8.28 million U.S. dollars) to strengthen bushfire risk management and support the mental health of emergency first responders.
The funding will improve the national fire danger rating system and extend key bushfire and mental health support services, the government said in a statement on Monday.
"With severe weather from El Nino and bushfire risks increasing, investing in preparedness before disasters strike is essential to protecting lives, livelihoods, property and communities," Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain was quoted as saying.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia had entered its high-risk weather season and was prepared to respond to emergencies and disasters.
The funding builds on a three-year investment in the national aerial firefighting fleet to ensure rapid deployment of aircraft during disasters, the statement said.
The National Bushfire Intelligence Capability, managed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia's national science agency, will receive additional support to provide governments with consistent bushfire risk information and help identify areas of greatest risk, it said.
Funding for the North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information Service, operated by Charles Darwin University, will also continue, supporting fire monitoring and hazard reduction activities across northern and remote Australia, some of the country's most fire-prone regions, the government said. ■
