Coles has donated more than $3 million in gift cards to over 6000 rural fire brigades across Australia. Let's extend that. The federal government could ensure volunteer firefighters have enough to pay for petrol, food at home and incidentals by partnering with retailers to give them a gift card each shift, distributed by their captain as they sign off at the end of the shift. (Gift card number written down by the signature, so we know it's going to the people who need it and not getting nicked.)
A way of getting relief to the volunteers fast and easy to implement. Doesn't pay the mortgage though. Other ideas?
