Australia ‘better prepared’ for bushfires than ahead of black summer as government considers national community service

Emergency services minister says service would likely be voluntary as government ‘wouldn’t want to commit to obliging people or forcing them’

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National community service is being considered among a suite of options to boost recruitment to fight fires, but the Australian emergency services minister has suggested service is likely to remain voluntary.

On Sunday, Murray Watt revealed that national community service, an idea championed by influential crossbench senator Jacqui Lambie, is the “sort of option is under consideration” through a home affairs department review.

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