Melbourne is forecast to reach a top of 39 degrees on Thursday and regional centres further north will be even hotter today [[WED.]]
In Queensland, the temperatures will likely increase the fire danger as more than 70 blazes continue to burn across the state.
Firefighters are concerned that no significant rain is forecast until January next year.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has welcomed the government's decision to change its so-called "robo-debt" scheme after tens of thousands of welfare recipients were overcharged.
The Department of Human Services has told staff to not rely entirely on the robo-debt system and instead undertake further investigations to determine whether people may owe money.
The system uses tax office and Centrelink data to reclaim overpaid welfare payments.
Mr Albanese says it is past time the government removed the faulty scheme and looked at redress.
