It's a testament to Australia's volunteers and firefighters that no lives were lost in bushfires that continue to rage across two states, Labor's Penny Wong says.
Senators rose in parliament on Monday to offer sympathies to those affected by bushfires that continue to rage in NSW and Victoria, offering praise to firefighters and support to victims.
More than 70 buildings have been destroyed on the NSW coastal town of Tathra while 18 homes have been razed in multiple fires across south western Victoria.
There's no reports of serious injuries in either state, but Victorian farmers have been hit hard by stock losses.
Senator Wong said few weekends so graphically illustrated poet Dorothea Mackellar's description of Australia as a country of beauty, terror, fire and flood.
"It is good that there have been no deaths, only minor injuries, which given the scale of these disasters is extremely fortunate but also a tribute to the extraordinary bravery of our emergency services workers and volunteers," she said.
Cabinet minister Mathias Cormann said the government stood ready to provide assistance to communities who have lost homes, sheds and livestock, their livelihood.
"It is being reported that at least 88 homes have been destroyed, mainly in Tathra, but there remains the horrible prospect there will be more once we know the full scale of the disaster," Senator Cormann said.
"I express my heartfelt thanks to all the emergency service workers and volunteers who worked so tirelessly over the weekend and continue to do so."
Greens leader, Richard Di Natale reflected on the Victorian fires, close to his home and the impact of stock losses.
"A lot of farmers are now suffering, seriously suffering," he said.
Australian Associated Press
