By Matt Bungard and Josh Dye
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been filmed making a quick getaway into a government car after a visit to the NSW South Coast town of Cobargo was met with derision from locals.
Cobargo was where father and son Robert and Patrick Salway lost their lives earlier this week, when fire roared through the area on Monday night, torching buildings in the town's historic main street.
Commenting on the PM's visit on Friday morning, NSW Transport Minister and Bega MP Andrew Constance told Seven's Sunrise program Mr Morrison got the reception he "probably deserved".
"I'd say this to the Prime Minister today: the nation wants you to open up the cheque books, help people rebuild their lives," Mr Constance said.
Some local residents were unhappy to see the PM on his visit.
"So many people here have lost their homes," one woman said to Mr Morrison on Thursday as she refused to shake his hand before he grabbed it.
"We need more help," she told the Prime Minister as he walked away.
The woman attempted to follow Mr Morrison, but was stopped by Bega Valley councillor, Tony Allen.
"You're an idiot! Who votes Liberal around here? Nobody," a man yelled.
"You're not welcome you [expletive]," someone yelled as the Mr Morrison walked back to his car.
"Go back to Kirribilli. We might burn that down! I don't see Kirribilli burning after the fireworks!" another man shouted.
As Mr Morrison hopped into his car, a woman turned to the camera to say that the town had been "forgotten".
"This is not fair, we are totally forgotten about down here - every single time this area has a flood or fire, we get nothing," she said.
"If we were Sydney, if we were North Coast, we would be flooded with donations and emergency relief."
In a separate incident, Mr Morrison tried to shake a firefighter's hand but was rejected.
"I don't really want to shake your hand mate," the firefighter told the PM.
A young woman refuses to shake the hand of the Prime Minister during his visit to Cobargo.Credit: Nine News
"Oh well, nice to see you," Mr Morrison responded.
He subsequently told a Rural Fire Service incident controller to "tell that fella I'm really sorry, I'm sure he's just tired".
The controller replied: "No, no, he lost a house."
The Prime Minister told ABC News he came to Cobargo to "see it for myself, to offer what comfort I could, but you can't always in every circumstances".
"I'm not surprised people are feeling very raw at the moment," Mr Morrison said.
"I understand the very strong feelings people have. They've lost everything and there are still some very dangerous days ahead."
Mr Morrison told radio station 2GB he was happy to bear the brunt of criticism from locals.
"I know when people get fearful or indeed angry, and they want to express that and if that means they want to get angry at me, then if that helps, by all means, I've got broad shoulders."
NSW's Transport Minister Constance said he didn't know the PM would be in his area.
"I didn't even know he was coming and I haven't had a call from him," Mr Constance said.
"To be honest with you, the locals probably gave him the welcome he probably deserved."
Mr Constance also called for more assistance from the federal government.
"I know a firie who lost their home and rang Centrelink yesterday and it was a terrible experience for him. We need the best people available through federal agencies to just have that sensitivity [and] make sure people get immediately some money in their pockets to buy supplies."
Mr Morrison has been criticised for taking a family holiday to Hawaii while bushfires burned around the country and has repeatedly been under pressure for his handling of the situation.
The Prime Minister later apologised, saying he accepted the criticism.
"I get it that people would have been upset to know that I was holidaying with my family while their families were under great stress ... But I'm comforted by the fact that Australians would like me to be here, just simply so I can be here, alongside them as they're going through this terrible time ... and I apologise for that."