The bushfires we are facing are unprecedented. The fires are likely to impact more hectares than at any point in our history, the smoke blanketing Sydney is the worst in living memory and the conditions on the ground have rarely been so bad so early in the fire season.

Right now, the state government’s first priority is supporting our firefighters and those communities affected by this emergency.

Our firefighters are showing the best traits Australians are known for. Many are volunteers working away from their families and putting themselves at risk to keep others safe. A lot of people have also lost their homes from these fires and they need our support now more than ever.

But we also need to look at the causes of these bushfires so we can avoid this bushfire season repeating itself in the future. That includes addressing climate change.