Sydney’s NYE fireworks will go ahead to ‘show resiliency’ amid fires

Sydney’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks will go ahead despite the wildfire crisis to show the world Australia’s resiliency, the country’s prime minister said, as authorities braced for conditions to deteriorate with high temperatures.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also announced financial support for some volunteer firefighters in New South Wales – the state worst hit by wildfires ravaging the nation.

“The world looks at Sydney every single year and they look at our vibrancy, they look at our passion, they look at our success,” Mr Morrison said.

“In the midst of the challenges that we face, subject to the safety considerations, I can think of no better time to express to the world just how optimistic and positive we are as a country.”

The City of Sydney Council gave the green light, although fire authorities warned the fireworks could be cancelled if catastrophic conditions were declared.

Mr Morrison said eligible volunteer firefighters will receive 300 Australian dollars (£160) a day – up to AU$6,000 (£3,203) in total – if called out to battle blazes for more than ten days. The compensation focused on people who are self-employed or work for small and medium businesses. “The early and prolonged nature of this fire season has made a call beyond what is typically made on our volunteer firefighters,” Mr Morrison said.

The prime minister, who has been under pressure since taking a much criticised family vacation to Hawaii during the wildfire crisis, announced last week that volunteer firefighters from the federal public sector would receive paid leave entitlements.

The opposition Labor party has been pressing the government to consider widespread compensation for volunteer firefighters.

“A lot of everyone’s stunned, a lot of time away from work,” said Sean Warren, a volunteer firefighter for about seven years. “A lot of people are using up their annual leave as well.” Mr Morrison said the compensation was necessary so the New South Wales fires commissioner was in a position to continue to call out the volunteer force.

The programme is expected to cost AU$50 million (£26.7m), but will be uncapped. Mr Morrison said it would be offered to other states and territories requesting help.

Wildfires have also flared in Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. High temperatures in the country’s east are expected until the new year. Sydney’s western suburbs are forecast to peak at 44C tomorrow.

An emergency warning was yesterday issued for Victoria’s east as conditions worsen. Melbourne, the state’s capital, was set to reach 43C today.