Celeste Barber: In 'worst case scenario' bushfire funds would stay with NSW RFS
Comedian Celeste Barber has told Today negotiations to unlock the $52 million raised by her bushfire appeal are going well.
Barber's online appeal attracted more than one million donations from around the world as catastrophic bushfires devastated parts of NSW and the country.
However, it was revealed last month that none of the money has been spent, due to RFS rules that state donations must be spent on firefighting equipment and training, not on families or charities.
Celeste Barber speaks during the Fire Fight Australia bushfire relief concert at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, February 16, 2020. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) AAP
Lawyers for Celeste Barber and the NSW Rural Fire Service met in mid-February in a bid to come to an arrangement as to how the funds would be spent.
Speaking exclusively to Today host Karl Stefanovic, Barber said the worst case scenario would be that the money remains with the NSW RFS, rather than being distributed through other organisations.
Celeste Barber says in worst case scenario bushfire funds would stay with NSW RFS. Today
In her eyes that would still be money well spent, she said.
"That means that those volunteers that I have spoken to, don't have to wear Converse shoes fighting 80 foot flames, or put a scarf over their face with all these toxic fumes," she explained.
"They will have equipment and they will have what they need to look after us, the way they need to look after us the way they did, because it is not the last we're going to see of the fires."
Deputy Commissioner of the NSW RFS, Rob Roger, said while the RFS is "quite comfortable" sharing the donations, the laws must be strictly obeyed.
A NSW Rural Fire Service crew member fights the Gospers Mountain Fire as it impacts a structure at Bilpin. AAP
The last few years have been busy for Barber, between going viral online, jet-setting around the world, fundraising, and hosting charity concerts, she's also found time to partner with Audible.
"I realised the last time I was kind of near a book is when I wrote one, which was two years ago. I need to kind of get back into reading," she said. "Audible is excellent. You just whack it in your ears."
When Stefanovic asked whether Barber would ever write a book again the comedian was adamant.
"No. Because it is like having a baby. You're like, "'I'm going to write a book. This is going to be amazing, it's going to be so amazing.' Then when you're in the middle of it you are like, 'I'm going to die here,' she laughed.
"I don't need to write another book, thank you very much."
- WITH AAP
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