A new plan which aims to ensure all Australians diagnosed with cancer get the same treatment – no matter where they live, what kind of cancer they have or their background – has been launched by the federal government.

Health sector figures say the wide-ranging initiative aims to improve prevention, screening, treatment and management of all types of the disease which is the nation's biggest killer, taking the lives of 135 Aussies every day.

Cancer Australia CEO Professor Dorothy Keefe told 9news.com.au the plan was developed after asking patients what they wanted.

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"At the moment we have some of the best cancer outcomes in the world," Keefe said.

"But that's not true for everybody.

"So there are certain different cancers that don't have the best outcome, certain priority populations that don't have the best outcomes.

"The aim of the plan is to improve it for everyone, wherever they are in Australia."

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Two years to be diagnosed

It took two years for former teacher Ray Suttie, 75, to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Despite the grandfather, from Ballarat in regional Victoria, registering elevated levels on the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test which can flag prostate cancer, no follow-up was done.

When he queried it, he was told his GP had left.

After struggling to get another GP to follow up, he did eventually get a diagnosis, but almost two years had passed since that initial test.

He believes if he had been in a city he would have been diagnosed faster.

"There's only a smaller amount of urologists to see in Ballarat," he said.

"In the city, there's a stack of them."

Once Suttie was finally diagnosed, his local hospital didn't have the ability to perform keyhole surgery, which meant his recovery took much longer.

Luckily, the cancer – which is the most commonly diagnosed in Australian men – hadn't spread and he has recovered.

Suttie said health authorities must include better provision of GPs in regional and rural areas.

"If you're in a country town in NSW, Victoria, you've got to get an appointment with a GP – and there's no GPs," he said.

Health Minister Mark Butler said Australia has some of the best cancer outcomes in the world – but not for everyone.

"The burden of cancer is increasing, with more than 164,000 Australians estimated to be diagnosed this year," Butler said.

"Our Australian Cancer Plan responds to patients' concerns that the health system is hard to navigate and will ensure no one falls through the gaps."

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Charity Movember will also be involved.

Famous for encouraging men to grow moustaches in November, it will join Monash University in a $17.5 million plan to share the experiences of cancer patients.

It is estimated around two in five Aussies will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.

"Australians who are diagnosed with cancer expect that their treatment teams will have the best possible information on hand, to support the best possible outcomes," Movember CEO Michelle Terry said.

"By providing a world-first platform for clinicians to understand the outcomes and lived experiences of patients, we can rapidly advance personalised cancer care; bridging the gap between evidence and clinical practice to improve patient outcomes."

The new plan will complement a scheme to tackle cancer in indigenous communities.

First Nations Australians are almost one and a half times more likely to die from cancer compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

About 1000 firefighters are facing an unpredictable and quickly evolving situation in Queensland with more than 80 fires still burning in the state.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said many of the 83 fires burning across the state are under control but fire authorities are still concerned about several areas.

Emergency warnings are in place for four suburbs including Cherry Gully near Warwick, Silver Valley and Watsonville near Herberton.

The situation can change rapidly. Get the most up-to-date information on the QFES website.

Meanwhile, residents in seven communities were told to prepare to leave this afternoon including Carnarvon Gorge, Buckland, Consuelo, Rewan, Kinkuna, Goodwood and parts of Colosseum.

Residents in five communities have been told it is not safe to return to The Glen, Silverwood, Dalveen, Colosseum and Mount Tom near Miriam Vale.

Palaszczuk said two properties have been impacted in the Wallangarra area.

Authorities are monitoring the water supply in the area and power is expected to be restored in the next 24 to 48 hours.

There are 84 firefighters travelling from Victoria to central and south-west Queensland, while there are 27 fire crews coming from New Zealand in the next few days.

Palaszczuk said emergency assistance payments are being rolled out to residents as communities start to get back on their feet.

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Some residents have been evacuated from their towns while others have chosen to stay.

Fran Thompson from The Glen chose to stay at her property despite the fact that others were evacuating.

"Police came and said for us to evacuate but we've got our sprinklers going around the house and we felt that it was safer to stay," Thompson said.

"Thirty-five years I've been here now and there's never been a fire come through like this.

"The ferocity of it up near Dalveen yesterday, that was just incredible."

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A 10-year-old boy has died after being trapped under a lift at a school in Sydney's Upper North Shore.

Police said emergency services were called to St Lucy's School in Wahroonga to find a 10-year-old boy trapped under a lift.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews tried to remove the boy from under the lift but he died at the scene.

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"Police have established a crime scene and a recovery operation is continuing," police said.

A spokesperson for the school confirmed the death in a statement to media and said the school would be closed until further notice.

"St Lucy's School is very sad to confirm the tragic death of one of our students this afternoon," it said.

"We are cooperating with investigating police and are not able to make any further statement today.

"The school will be closed to students until further notice.

"We ask for privacy and space for our staff and families to grieve at this difficult time as we remember our beautiful student."

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

St Lucy's School is a primary school and high school for children with a range of disabilities, the school's website says.

Bushfire conditions have eased in New South Wales, with most fires downgraded to advice levels, but one still burning out of control. 

The bushfire that threatened close to 6800 residents in Tenterfield is still burning out of control at a watch and act level, however, the town has been spared from an ember attack.

The bushfire has become worse on the western side of the blaze, threatening homes near the New England Highway and north of Taraban Road.

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Residents in Tenterfield, Jennings and Tarban have been told to monitor conditions and remain alert after they were told to leave immediately earlier today.

"People in Wallangarra in Queensland and Jennings in New South Wales should continue to monitor conditions and stay up to date in case the situation changes," FRNSW said on their website.

"Know what you will do if the situation changes."

"Residents of Tarban should monitor conditions and take the advice of firefighters on the ground."

Four homes were lost in bushfires in Jennings and Wallangarra overnight.

Strong westerly winds forced the blaze into a different direction today, sparing the town of Wallangarra just over the border.

Four other fires which were burning at a watch and act level earlier today have been downgraded to advice level.

Fire crews have been backburning south of the Tenterfield LGA today to prevent any more flames from sparking, as the main town was issued with an ember attack late yesterday afternoon.

Mayor Bronwyn Petrie said residents remained concerned as the fires are downgraded to watch and act and advice levels.

"Some are very stoic, some are very on edge, some were on edge before the fire season even started because of what we went through four years ago when the black summer bushfires started here," she told 9News.

Conditions started to ease this morning as fires were downgraded to watch and act level from emergency level.

The RFS earlier confirmed that additional crews from Sydney were on their way to the Tenterfield LGA to support firefighters in the area.

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"As conditions deteriorated yesterday across Tenterfield fire grounds, a request for additional crews was put in place with 30 members flying out from Sydney," NSWRFS said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"These crews will support local firefighters and we extend our thanks to those who have responded."

There were also reports that a Ffire truck rolled on its back while travelling between two fires, trapping the crew inside overnight.

The team has been rescued and taken to hospital for precautionary treatment. One firefighter suffered minor injuries from the incident.

There are 65 fires burning across the state, with one burning at a watch and act level. 

Wilson took over as acting CEO on July 2 and will take over as chief executive this week.

In a separate incident, he also assaulted someone with a teaspoon.