As the world watches Australia battle one of the most unprecedented bushfire seasons we’ve ever seen, there’s a secondary story that’s been gaining momentum: Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his response to the fires.
Amongst the devastating losses, the spreading fire threat and the mass evacuations there has also been a lot of noise and anger being directed at our leader. His name is trending, but not in a good way.
It started with Morrison's Hawaiian holiday and boiled over after the Prime Minister held a New Year's Eve party that many deemed "tasteless" given the disaster that was unfolding. From there, the anger only grew when he held a cheery photo opp with the Aussie cricketers the next day while whole communities surveyed the damage from the night before.
After visiting fire affected communities, footage has emerged of locals and firefighters refusing to shake his hand. There's no denying the growing mood.
Here's the footage from Cobargo. Post continues after video.
Our Prime Minister is only one man, and most of the country knows he can't work miracles. He can't put the fires out, and he can't snap his fingers and make this all go away.
But it's the way he's being handling events, press conferences and speeches that have many feeling prickly.
Here are some of the reactions from not just here in Oz, but around the world.
Pity the poor #Australians, their country ablaze, and their rotten @ScottMorrisonMP saying, “This is not the time to talk about Climate Change. We have to grow our economy.” What an idiot. What good is an economy in an uninhabitable country? Lead, you fuckwit!!
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) January 3, 2020
Morrison got what he deserved... absolutely unconscionable for a Prime Minister to holiday in Hawaii as his nation burns. https://t.co/mT9jlcPO5Q
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 2, 2020
This thread is clear, thorough and heartbreaking about the full devastation of the fires in Australia and the unforgivable decision of leaders to not discuss climate change at this time when it is most staring us in the face. https://t.co/ghRnq9YaDp
— Jameela Jamil ???? (@jameelajamil) January 3, 2020
I’m pretty sure Jesus would want you to do something, @ScottMorrisonMP.
— Nazeem Hussain (@nazeem_hussain) January 2, 2020
PM Scott Morrison donated one Woolies bag of food to the Lucknow relief centre. Spoke for 8 minutes to volunteers & people who’ve lost their homes & left with the words “good to see your chins are up. There’s always something to look forward to.”@10NewsFirst #10NewsFirst
— Georgia Love (@GeorgieALove) January 3, 2020
The New York Post labelled our Prime Minister “hapless” while writing about his meeting this morning in Cobargo, NSW.
The Independent's front page told its readers, "this is what a climate crisis looks like."
For god sake @ScottMorrisonMP if you won’t do anything about #ClimateEmegency at LEAST get a bloody fire policy!! Here is one Bill Shorten prepared earlier #firefleet #smokejumpers #ScottyfromMarketing https://t.co/9EOYNnbgvC
— Magda Szubanski AO (@MagdaSzubanski) January 2, 2020
The best way @ScottMorrisonMP can redeem himself is to crack down on greenie infiltrators in Councils & bureaucracies & give the people back the power to manage their land. No reports, no commissions, no talk-fests. Just do it!
— Prue MacSween (@macsween_prue) January 2, 2020
Senior NSW Liberal Andrew Constance says the Prime Minister got "the welcome he probably deserved" when he was heckled by angry residents in a bushfire-ravaged town.
"I say this to the Prime Minister today, the nation wants you to open up the cheque books, obviously help people rebuild their lives," Constance told Seven, after Morrison's visit.
“I know this is tough and I know I’m on his side of politics. But the only two people who are providing leadership at this stage are (NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner) Shane Fitzsimmons and (NSW premier) Gladys Berejiklian,” he added.
Not even catastrophes like these seem to bring any political action. How is this possible?
Because we still fail to make the connection between the climate crisis and increased extreme weather events and nature disasters like the #AustraliaFires
That's what has to change.
Now. https://t.co/DQcZViKJQz— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 22, 2019
... And there's more.
Mamamia Out Loud, our bi-weekly podcast, is coming to Melbourne for a live show, with 100 per cent of all ticket proceeds going to the Australian Red Cross disaster relief and recovery fund.
It's a brand new show, full of laughs and news and opinions and a few special surprises, with Mia Freedman, Holly Wainwright and Jessie Stephens, on February the 11th. You can buy tickets right now at mamamia.com.au/events. See you there!
Feature image: Getty.
