Unlimited paid leave for firefighters backed by reader poll

Volunteer firefighters should be offered unlimited paid leave during a bushfire crisis, according to an exclusive nine.com.au reader poll.

Otherwise, remuneration for volunteer firefighters should come in the form of compensation for time spent fighting fires, rather than a permanent payment readers indicated.

The latest nine.com.au reader poll, of 1196 users*, shows that companies should offer unlimited paid leave for volunteer firefighters, with 62 per cent saying yes, and just 20 per cent saying no.

But most people do not feel volunteer firefighters should receive permanent payment.

Thirty-three per cent were in favour, and 51 per cent said they should receive compensation instead.

Almost a third of readers also believe both the federal and state governments were providing adequate leadership of the bushfire crisis.

Eighteen per cent were satisfied with the state government responses only, but just five per cent approved of only the federal government's leadership.

Thirty-three per cent said neither were providing adequate leadership, and 12 per cent were unsure.

This comes as the Prime Minister comes under increasing pressure to take greater action on bushfires.

Yesterday Scott Morrison announced he would take a royal commission proposal to cabinet to investigate the bushfire crisis.

The commission would consider the effects of climate change on the bushfire season.

"The climate we are living in now and will live in for the next ten years…is hotter, drier, longer seasons," Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison said Australia would "meet and beat" its emissions reductions targets for the Paris Agreement.

Nearly 30 people have been confirmed dead as a result of fires in the last few weeks.

*The nine.com.au poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the nine audience on 9Nation, which is an online community of our readers and viewers.