Barber plea to fix fire gift fiasco

COMEDIAN Celeste Barber has made an emotional submission to the NSW parliament as it debates legislation that would allow the money from her bushfire-relief fundraiser go to suffering families and other charities.

Barber raised $51.3m through her GoFundMe page after the horror summer bushfires, with donations pouring in from all over the world.

The comedian initially intended to raise $30,000 for the Rural Fire Service but as the amount skyrocketed, she pledged the money would go towards several causes, including to families who had lost their homes or loved ones and animal-conservation charities.

However, in May the NSW Supreme Court ruled that the money could go only to the RFS.

A new bill before the state parliament could change this, with a proposal that the donations be shared with the families of volunteer rural firefighters killed on duty, volunteer firefighters injured on duty, people and organisations providing care to animals affected by bushfires and people and communities significantly affected by bushfires.

Barber (right) said the situation should be treated differently to other donations as it could motivate people to continue donating.

“My concern is that if it is not possible to help these people have their money allocated to where they want it to go in this unprecedented instance, this may be the last we see of such generosity on such an international scale,” she wrote.

In her submission in support of the bill, Barber said she had been told that only $20m of the money had been spent so far.

The RFS has opposed the bill, claiming the money — and more — has already been earmarked for the fire service.