"The politicising of climate change in Australia has to stop. Too many lives,homes bushland and beautiful native animals have been lost,"Ms King said.

The emergency also forced the closure of a 100-kilometre stretch of the Hume Highway,which connects Sydney to Canberra,between Picton and Majura. The road has been reopened but could be closed again as the fire spreads north and smoke sweeps across the area.

The Illawarra Highway,connecting the Hume Highway to Wollongong,is closed.

The fire is on the outskirts of Exeter and is just 20 kilometres from the 4,000-hectare Belanglo State Forest.