Celeste Barber’s plea to fix RFS bushfire donation debacle

Comedian Celeste Barber has made a desperate plea to parliament to help her redirect funds from her $51.3 million bushfire-relief fundraiser.

Comedian Celeste Barber has made an emotional submission to the NSW parliament as it debates legislation that would allow the money from her bushfire-relief fundraiser to be redistributed to suffering families and other charities.

Ms Barber raised $51.3 million through her GoFundMe page after the horror summer bushfires, with donations pouring in from all over the world.

The comedian initially intended to raise $30,000 for the Rural Fire Service, but as the amount skyrocketed, she pledged the money would go towards a number of causes, including to families who had lost their homes or loved ones, and animal conservation charities.

However, the NSW Supreme Court ruled in May that the money could only go to the RFS.

A new Bill going before the NSW parliament could change this, with a proposal that the donations be shared with the families of volunteer rural fire fighters killed on duty, volunteer firefighters injured on duty, people and organisations providing care to animals affected by bushfires and people and communities significantly affected by bushfires.

Ms Barber argued the fundraising effort was like none seen before, with everyone from celebrities to children from fire-ravaged towns pulling together to help.

“I have lost count of how many times I have heard and read the word ‘unprecedented’ used when referring to the money raised,” she wrote.

“I point this out because that is exactly what we are dealing with. An unprecedented amount of money donated by an unprecedented number of generous people who did what they could, to feel less helpless in a crisis and to use their collective power as humans.”

Celeste Barber has pleaded for parliament to pass a bill allowing the $51 million she raised for the RFS to be more widely distributed. Picture: Richard Dobson

The 2019-20 bushfire season in NSW alone destroyed more than five million hectares of land, wiped out 2349 homes and killed more than 20. Picture: AAP Image/Jeremy Piper

Ms Barber said the situation should be treated differently to other donations, as it could motivate people to continue donating.

“My concern is that if it is not possible to help these people have their money allocated to where they want it to go in this unprecedented instance that this may be the last we see of such generosity on such an international scale,” she wrote.

In her submission in support of the bill, Ms Barber said she had been told only $20 million of the money had been spent so far, and wanted the other $30 million to go elsewhere “to honour the donors”.

“It makes so much sense to me and thousands of people around the world who donated that this money be given to those and others in need,” she said.

Ms Barber said she had tried to keep a low profile over the past five months, refusing “hundreds” of media requests, “as it was never my intention to make this about me”.

“However, it is my name being used in the courts and throughout international media channels,” she said.

The RFS have opposed the bill, claiming the money had already been allocated to new gear for firefighters and stations. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The RFS have opposed the bill, claiming the money – and more – has already been earmarked for the fire service, with $20 million for individual brigade support, providing such as handheld radios and a fridge for the fire station, and another $70 million for hi-tech helmets, respiratory devices and reconditioned trucks.

RFS Association president Brian McDonough told a parliamentary inquiry on Thursday that, if the bill passed, it would “destroy any opportunity for funds to be given to the Brigades Donations Fund”.

“How many charities do we require to support these (bushfire affected) people?” he asked.

“There are mechanisms for these people to get support … it does not necessarily have to come from this fund.”

Mr McDonough argued the “majority” of people who donated to the fund “knew exactly where their money was going”.