The package includes A$15 million to set up recovery information hubs in bushfire-hit communities and A$12 million for local councils to rebuild public spaces. Households hit by extended power disruptions because of the fires can apply for A$16 million worth of power outage payments. The package is being jointly funded by the federal and state government of Victoria. The bushfires, which started last week during a summer heatwave, have torn through more than 400,000 hectares (988,421 acres) of land in Victoria. Eleven fires are still active across the state, with authorities warning that firefighters will need weeks to bring them under control.

Source: The Edge Markets January 14, 2026 04:30 UTC