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Celeste Barber on stage at a Fire Fight bushfire relief concert in February.Credit:Dean Sewell

Barber's social media appeal during the bushfire disaster was flooded with $51.2 million in donations.

While the money was solicited for the NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades Donations Fund,Barber said it would be distributed across multiple states and charities,including to assist injured wildlife and families of people who died.

In Maythe NSW Supreme Court ruled that,because of the strict rules governing the trust fund,the money could not be given to other charities or fire services.

It could,however,be put towards RFS firefighters injured or killed,improved equipment and facilities for brigades and to cover the organisation's training,resources and administrative expenses.

NSW Parliament is holding an inquiry intoa bill proposed by the Greens that would amend the RFS Act to allow donations made between November and February to go towards bushfire-affected communities and individuals.

At the time of the court case,the RFS said in court documents that it wished"to honour the intentions and beliefs of Ms Barber and the donors".

However the organisation has now lodged a submission to the inquiry,opposing the bill. The RFS pointed out that Barber's donations page clearly stated funds raised would go into the trust to assist its brigades.

"A judicial decision on how the funds can be allocated has been made,"the submission said.

"The NSW RFS believes that decision should be respected. To do anything else would undermine the spirit of the trust and any efforts to raise money for brigades in the future."

In her submission to the inquiry,Barber said that,as the trickle of donations became a tsunami,it was suggested she open additional fundraising pages so money could go to other charities.

"I didn’t know what to do as I feared that if I closed this particular fundraiser down and started another one the momentum might have been lost,"she said.

"I absolutely thought it would be possible for this huge amount of money to be shared."

Barber argued the"unprecedented"circumstances warranted consideration of a change in the rules.

"Over the last five months,I have refused hundreds of media requests … as it was never my intention to make this about me,"she said.

"However,it is my name being used in the courts and throughout international media channels.

"My hope is that this is the start of a new way of the world coming together to help in a crisis."

The inquiry will hold public hearings on Wednesday.

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