ORTENZIA BORRE, HOST: And joining me live now is Minister Kristy McBain. Now, you're at the Royal Australian Air Force Base there in Richmond this morning as we head into the bushfire season, what should we be doing for higher risk weather season preparedness?

MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, KRISTY MCBAIN: Good morning Ortenzia. It's great to be at RAAF Base Richmond this morning announcing the National Aerial Firefighting Fleet for this high risk weather season. Every year the Australian Government contributes funding to this, over $50 million in Australian Government funding, which contributes to more than 160 contracted firefighting fleet for the states and territories. Five that are funded directly by the Albanese Government. And it's really important that as we enter this higher risk weather season on the back of what was extraordinary heat and wind yesterday, that every Australian has a plan for the worst-case scenario. A plan that they can enact with family and friends to make sure that they keep themselves safe. 

HOST: Now I want to ask you Minister about regional airline Rex. It's just been sold to a US based air services company, Air T. The airline entered voluntary administration, of course, last July. So, how will this international acquisition impact our local flights? 

MCBAIN: Well, our Government's been really strident in that regional aviation is incredibly important. Airlines like Rex provide vital service to communities right across the country. Those flights are needed in many parts of the country where otherwise there would be no service at all. And in some parts of the country, they are inaccessible for months during the year where we've got flooding and heavy rain. So, it's vitally important we continue to have a regional airline. We said from day one our Government would back regional aviation and we've done that for more than a year now while we had the administrators search for a buyer. A buyer has now been found, there are still some final steps to go through, but I think it shows the Albanese Government has the back of every regional Australian because we were not prepared to let Rex go by and regional communities not be accessed by the air any longer. So, we look forward to continuing to work with Air T after those final steps are taken and ensure that regional aviation remains strong across our country. 

HOST: Now, we've just heard from Cam that Australia will answer a call for help between, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, by sending an Australian representative over. Now, what impact do you believe that we will have there by sending one person to negotiate further in a ceasefire deal?

MCBAIN: Look, I think it shows the high regard that our Australian military has held that they want a strategic officer to go over to the Middle East. We've answered that call from the US to send an officer over and we'll continue to work with our allies in that respect. I think it shows really, though, that the Australian Government wants to see peace in the Middle East. We don't want a conflict that is, you know, thousands of kilometres away impacting on our own home soil. We want to contribute to peace and stability across the region. And this is one way that we can help achieve that. 

HOST: Kristy McBain, Emergency Management Minister there, thank you so much for your time this morning. 

MCBAIN: Thank you.