The Greens have pledged to enlist the Australian Defence Force to fight bushfires they fear will occur more frequently in a warming climate.
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If elected, the Greens will ensure Australian Defence Force personnel are trained and resourced to fight fires and mitigate other natural disasters.
The ADF assisted to tackle blazes in Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area earlier this year, however an inquiry heard personnel were not adequately trained for the job.
“It’s time we broadened the mandate of the ADF so that it has improved capacity to assist our communities address domestic challenges like firefighting and responding to sea level rise,” Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim said.
“We need to do all we can to support our firefighters, particularly to respond to remote and wilderness fires in as safe a way as possible.”
The party said it would purchase three water bomber aircraft.
The $200 million commitment would require the ADF to invest $150 million on three water bombers at $50 million each, and $50 million over four years in operational support and training.
The Greens also seek to double the number of civilian career firefighters by 2030, under their Living With Global Warming Policy.
