Bushfires emergency: Thousands of defence personnel deployed across nation

Thousands of defence personnel will be sent to fire zones as the Commonwealth steps up its effort to battle the bushfires, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.

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Thousands of defence personnel will be sent to fire zones as the Commonwealth steps up its effort to battle the bushfires, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.

Addressing the media in Canberra, Scott Morrison said the fire crisis had escalated to an unprecedented level with Governor-General David Hurley signing off on the operation this morning.

“There is still a very long way to go,” he said.

“The scale of the fires is stretching resources on the ground.”

Chief of the Australian Defence Force Angus Campbell, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Director General of Emergency Management Australia Rob Cameron in Canberra today. Picture: AAP

Fire burns around the Snowy Mountains town of Batlow today. Picture Rohan Kelly

“Without being asked we will be turning up.”

Mr Morrison said his visits to isolated communities had triggered the response with personnel to be sent to help with the recovery.

Three helicopters and a navy ship will also be sent to NSW and Victoria and extra money made available for water bombing aircraft.

“The commonwealth will fully fund the leasing cost,” Mr Morrison said.

The Government will also establish a national recovery agency.

The Prime Minister will also remain in Australia after officially cancelling his planned trip to India and Japan.

The Prime Minister confirmed the cancellation at lunchtime after meeting with senior ministers and defence chiefs.

Residents were waiting for the bushfire to impact the town of Batlow. Picture Rohan Kelly

Mr Morrison was due to fly to Delhi next weekend for a five day trip to bolster Australia’s defence ties and trade relationships with the two countries.

More than a dozen Australian business leaders were expected to travel with Mr Morrison to India to spruik Australia’s India Economic Strategy.

The plan sets out ways Australia exporters can boost trade with India over the next 15 years and outlines opportunities to increase Australia’s thermal coal exports.

The official cancellation comes after Mr Morrison held a meeting of the National Security Committee in Canberra as fire conditions worsened in NSW and Victoria.

Originally published as Bushfires emergency: Thousands of defence personnel deployed across nation