Australia news live: Labor to meet Greens over housing bill; foreign interference ‘principal national security concern’, committee finds

Follow today's live news updates

• RBA interest rates: Australian borrowers given reprieve as Reserve Bank pauses again
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

RFS predicts severe bushfire season to come

Firefighters are scrambling to catch up on bushfire preparations as NSW braces for a hot summer, AAP reports.

The No 1 factor for that not going ahead was the weather conditions, the rain, the flooding, that's meant the crews weren't able to get out and do that important work in communities.

There is plenty more to be done and this boost in mitigation personnel will enable even more vital work to be undertaken.

This is a tragedy. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the Australian Defence Force personnel on board. All were from the 6th Aviation Regiment based at Holsworthy army barracks in Sydney and valuable members of our community.

Our thoughts are also with those who served alongside these four young men - their friends and colleagues in uniform - and the broader defence community.