$53m bushfire donations sit in limbo since January

Australian Comedian Celeste Barber

Barber raised $53million four months ago with her Facebook appeal on January 3, after bushfires engulfed her property on the New South Wales south coast.

Barber originally directed the money to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Brigades Donations Fund, but was unaware money sent to this fund is only used on training, resources and fire equipment - not for volunteers and their families or fire-affected communities.

But the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Brigades Donations Fund cannot by law give their donations to other charities - meaning the money has sat in limbo since January.

The confusion as to where the money will go could be solved this month, with an urgent hearing being granted at the NSW Supreme Court on May 18.