Australia commits to providing base access for aerial firefighting

The Australian government will guarantee that the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) has continued access to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Richmond, RAAF Base Williamtown, and HMAS Albatross for aerial firefighting operations, with an extension of the current agreement through to 2029. This agreement ensures that the NSW RFS can maintain its efforts to protect local communities and the environment through aerial firefighting operations supported by these Defence bases.

The NSW RFS provides fire and emergency services to nearly 95% of the Australian state. Over the past decade, Australia’s Department of Defence has supported the NSW RFS by granting access to Defence sites.

Defence expressed pride in working alongside emergency services to safeguard the community during times of crisis, including the Black Summer bushfires, the 2022 Eastern Australia floods, and the recent North Queensland floods.

Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, said: “This commitment provides important certainty for the RFS and supports their critical work to keep Australians and communities safe from bushfires. This relationship goes to the heart of the concepts of national defense and resilience, as outlined in the National Defence Strategy, by bolstering the NSW Rural Fire Service’s ability to respond to natural disasters. It is a further demonstration of the outcomes that can be achieved through greater partnerships between the Commonwealth, states, territories and industry.”

Earlier this year, Australia certified Recoil’s Tsunami aerial firefighting tank system.