‘Highly skilled and absolutely dedicated’: How the ADF has mobilised to assist bushfire recovery
A Major General has explained how the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has quickly mobilised to help with the bushfire recovery effort.
Operation Bushfire Assist was launched by the Prime Minister on January 4, with 3000 reservists called up to help.
With tomorrow tipped to be another harsh day for firefighters, Natalie Peters and Erin Molan spoke with Major General Jake Ellwood about how the ADF has mobilised.
He tells them about how the recovery effort is structured, and how niche specialists such as veterinarians are also assisting.
“We’ve achieved a great deal along with the emergency services and the volunteers… we have just wonderful, wonderful people who are highly skilled and absolutely dedicated.”
When the ADF calls up reservists, he says it’s a priority to make sure they’re not taken from any other vital roles.
“What we’re not doing is we’re not pulling people out of the emergency services. If they’re already contributing then we’re not going to take away from that contribution.
“We’re then still left with this large and very willing and very capable force of dedicated people.”
Click PLAY below to hear the full interview
Image: Getty/Luis Ascui