Keep firefighting planes here: Victoria

Victoria's bushfire season has already started and the state wants contracts for large air tankers based in NSW to be extended.

One plane's contract expires on December 4, the other on January 16, and Victoria and South Australia want to keep them here so states can help each other during summer bushfires.

"I am asking the federal government to consider funding the extension of two key pieces of firefighting arsenal," Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett said on Wednesday.