Defence staff at RAAF Richmond have been praised by the Federal Deputy Opposition Leader for their role in the recent bushfire crisis.
Richard Marles visited the RAAF base on January 16 with Macquarie MP Susan Templeman and Opposition Disaster and Emergency Management Spokesman Murray Watt, saying the Australian Defence Force (ADF) did a "wonderful service" fighting the fires, supporting the aerial campaign, and providing accommodation for visiting firefighters.
"It was great ... to visit RAAF base Richmond, as well as visiting [Army] Reservists in their role," Mr Marles told reporters last Thursday.
"The role that the ADF has played, not just in the last few weeks but in fact over the last couple of months, where bushfires have been very much front and centre in the work of the ADF, makes you feel proud to be Australian."
Ms Templeman said the three had met up with various ADF members at the base, and had seen the work Army Reservists performed locally in the aftermath of the fires to make bushfire affected areas safer.