On 8 January, The Age reported that politicians were returning from holidays to cope with the growing catastrophe. Premier John Fahey returned for a day from his family holiday on the Gold Coast, while Acting Prime Minister Brian Howe paid tribute to NSW firefighting operations, and Acting NSW Opposition Leader Andrew Refshauge called for greater fines for arsonists.Politicians enter fray as holidays end abruptly; The Age; 8 June 1994 On 9 January, The Sunday Age reported that the Australian Defence Force had deployed 400 troops, 25 helicopters and aircraft, and that Prime Minister Paul Keating had cut short his holiday to receive a briefing on the crisis and inspect firefighting efforts with the NSW Premier John Fahey. Keating announced that an additional 500 troops were on standby to assist with firefighting efforts and thanked the 7,500 volunteers who had been fighting 150 blazes since Boxing Day.Additional 500 Troops on Standby; The Sunday Age; 9 January 1995
