Throughout the week I visited a number of people directly affected by the fires. There is no doubt many need help to get back on their feet, so the Commonwealth government has announced immediate cash assistance for households and business affected by the fires.

The Disaster Recovery Payment will provide $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children. And for those who have lost their income as a direct result of the bushfires, we will provide those eligible up to 13 weeks' income support via the Disaster Recovery Allowance. Payments are available now and eligibility can be checked at humanservices.gov.au/disaster or call 1802266.

I have been in contact with a number of insurance companies to ensure they allocate the resources needed so insurance claims are assessed and processed as quickly as possible so those affected can rebuild.

I'd like to once again thank our volunteer firefighters who have worked non-stop saving homes and communities from the fires. It's been an incredible effort, supported by emergency services and the Australian Defence Forces, who have been able to provide a significant amount of logistical support to the various operations across our region and beyond. I'd also like to thank the volunteers who have helped at evacuation and emergency coordination centres to ensure our emergency services and fire victims are well supported.