Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expressed his deepest sympathy to the families of two people who died in the South Australian bushfires.
More than 13 people are in hospital and grave concerns are held for at least five of them who are in a critical condition, he told parliament on Thursday.
"Our Australian summer is challenging, unpredictable and often, as we've seen just in this week, very cruel," Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Turnbull told Premier Jay Weatherill and Opposition Leader Steven Marshall on Wednesday night the federal government stood ready to assist in the "tragedy".
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said those affected by the fire were in the thoughts of the parliament and all Australians.
Just before question time he spoke to Labor MP Nick Champion, who has returned to SA to be with his family.
"He tells me that the fire has lapped right up to the town of Kapunda where he is and where he grew up," Mr Shorten said.
He commended hundreds of firefighters and volunteers for their incredible bravery over the last 24 hours.
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