The RAAF C130 & C17 fleet is already stretched for frames and pilots with existing tasking. Ignoring the aircraft retrofit, people seem to think that RAAF pilots can just start doing firefighting ops overnight with their current skill sets. LOTS more specialised training required, and the risk level goes through the roof for a small seasonal requirement. Just look at the RJ85 firebomber video where they almost clipped that ridge a couple months ago. Leave the large firebombing work to the experts who train and do it operationally ALL year round travelling around the globe.
As a side note, I am not a helicopter pilot but I would have thought a much more easy transfer of Military flying skills would be using Army choppers with Bambi buckets, and this requires very little aircraft modifications. Surely that skill set is very close to winching ops, etc and the risk is lower than a large fixed wing aircraft that have less manoeuvre potential? Open to feedback from mil chopper guys....