Volunteer firefighter numbers are on the decline, raising concerns ahead of a potentially bad bushfire season.
Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt says it's time for Australia to look at creating a new paid firefighting service that would work through the bushfire season.
"Semi-professional firefighting services, which is what they have in places like California, where people can come online and be paid … for the fire season rather than an entire year".
Retired Major General Peter Dunn has praised the "outstanding suggestion" after years advocating for a similar model as part of the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action Group.