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Fungi could be used to fireproof buildings, after researchers found a way to grow them in thin sheets.

Scientists are chemically manipulating the composition of mycelium, a network of fungal strands that can thrive on organic waste and in darkness, to harness its fire-retardant properties.

They have found a way to grow pure and paper-thin sheets of the fungal strands, which can then be layered into a range of materials, from flat panels for the building industry, to a leather-like material for the fashion industry.

The researchers are focused on creating bio-derived, fire-retardant building cladding to avoid more incidents such as the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in London, which killed 72 people.

"The great thing about mycelium is that it forms a thermal protective char layer when exposed to fire or radiant heat," RMIT University flammability and thermal properties expert Associate Professor Everson Kandare said.

"The longer and the higher temperature at which mycelium char survives, the better its use as a fireproof material."

Composite cladding panels usually contain plastics, which give off heavy smoke and toxic fumes when they burn.

Mycelium-based cladding can be made from renewable organic waste and is not harmful to the environment when it is burned, Prof Kandare said.

RMIT biotechnology and mycology expert Associate Professor Tien Huynh said fungi were slow to grow and harder to produce at scale than plastics.

"However, we've been approached by the mushroom industry about using their fungal-incorporated waste products," Prof Huynh said.

"Collaborating with the mushroom industry would remove the need for new farms, while producing products that meet fire safety needs in a sustainable way."

The project to develop eco-friendly fungi building cladding is a collaboration between RMIT University, the University of New South Wales, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Australian Research Council Training Centre in Fire Retardant Materials and Safety Technologies.

The study's latest findings were published in the journal Polymer Degradation and Stability.

Researchers are shifting their focus to creating fungal mats reinforced by engineering fibres.

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The bosses of Westpac and Commonwealth Bank are set to be be quizzed about their interest rates and approach to helping scammed customers.

The federal parliament's economics committee will hold a second day of hearings in Canberra on Thursday, having received evidence from ANZ and NAB on Wednesday.

The big four banks control about 80 per cent of the Australian market.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday it was important banks passed on interest rate increases to savers as they had been raising rates for borrowers.

He said he had met bank chiefs to ensure they talk to customers facing hardship as interest rates on their loans rose.

"I've made sure in my conversations with the CEOs that there are the appropriate provisions in place for banks to be accommodating where they can to help people through what is a difficult time," he said.

Committee chair Daniel Mulino wants to hear from the banks on steps they have taken to protect their institutions and their customers from the rising number of sophisticated scams.

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Young home owners who bought during the COVID-19 pandemic are pulling back their spending sharply as interest rates rise and cost of living pressures persist.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia head Matt Comyn has told a federal parliamentary inquiry many households are clearly feeling the strain, hauling in their discretionary spending and dipping into savings.

Mr Comyn said a third of pandemic era first-home buyers had reduced their spending by more than 30 per cent year-on-year.

The bank boss echoed his counterparts from ANZ and NAB, who have told the inquiry the number of households failing to make repayments on time is still very low by historical standards.

Mr Comyn said one of the biggest drivers of stress across lending books is unemployment.

"By far the biggest increase in terms of the reason why someone will be unable to continue making repayments is a change in the employment circumstances," he said on Thursday.

"The employment market remains very strong and the vast majority, almost all of our customers, continue to work."

He also flagged scams as a key threat and said protecting customers was a top priority.

The head of Westpac is also expected to front the inquiry on Thursday after NAB and ANZ appeared on Wednesday.

The big four banks control about 80 per cent of the Australian market.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday it was important banks passed on interest rate increases to savers as they had been raising rates for borrowers.

He said he had met bank chiefs to ensure they talk to customers facing hardship as interest rates on their loans rose.

"I've made sure in my conversations with the CEOs that there are the appropriate provisions in place for banks to be accommodating where they can to help people through what is a difficult time," he said.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is on his way home after meeting Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of a NATO summit, promising Australia will donate another 30 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to his forces.

The Bushmasters already provided by Australia "have been particularly helpful in saving lives in Ukraine," Mr Albanese said he had been told by the Ukrainian president and Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov.

Mr Albanese said the package builds on Australia's previous commitment of 90 Bushmasters, taking the total number to 120.

Australia has provided more than $710 million in military aid, with overall support reaching a total of $890 million.

Mr Albanese said at the NATO meeting in Lithuania on Wednesday night that Australia remained steadfast in its commitment to support Ukraine.

"We are proud to provide additional Bushmaster vehicles to assist the brave men and women fighting for their home and their nation's sovereignty," he said.

"Russia unilaterally launched this illegal and immoral invasion and should withdraw its troops and end the conflict immediately."

Mr Zelenskiy expressed his gratitude after meeting Mr Albanese.

"Thank you! A powerful new defence package, including 30 Bushmasters," he wrote on the Telegram app.

Australia this week announced a further step in its support for Ukraine - the deployment of an RAAF E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to protect the flow of assistance.

Earlier, Mr Albanese told NATO leaders Australia's partnership with the security alliance is crucial for global peace and prosperity.

The prime minister is in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius as part of a group of four Indo-Pacific nations sharing their concerns with European and other NATO partners about the global impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

NATO members invited Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea to provide insight into broader security challenges such as China's military expansion.

After Mr Albanese's meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general told reporters China "is not our adversary".

Chinese authorities said in a statement the nation opposed NATO's "eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region".

"Any act that jeopardises China's legitimate rights and interests will be met with a resolute response," they said.

Mr Albanese also held separate talks with US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.

© AAP 2023