Australia could have been better prepared for the current bushfire crisis facing multiple states if the federal government had heeded warnings from emergency leaders as early as April, former Fire & Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins says.

Speaking on the ABC's Radio National program on Thursday morning, Mr Mullins said he wrote to Prime Minister Scott Morrison in April and again "immediately after" the May election, warning him of the coming bushfire season and requesting an urgent meeting to discuss funding for firefighting and action to address climate change.

Of the response from the government, he said "in a nutshell it has been difficult and the Prime Minister has seen fit not to meet with us".

Instead, he said he was told Energy Minister Angus Taylor would be in touch. Mr Mullins said the Energy Minister was not the appropriate contact, and that it was only recently that the Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, had reached out and scheduled a meeting for next month.