Letters: Prime Minister Scott Morrison faces rocky road to recover from bushfires

Today readers have their say on the PM copping rebuke for the bushfire response and the threat of a new war of Iran.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets firefighters. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

THERE is no doubt that Prime Minister Scott Morrison is no longer the “pin-up boy” in Australian politics, if recent widespread incidents of rejection by fire-torn communities is any indication.

Whether it was a divine message from above or the rocket up the backside he received on his visits – with media and staff in tow – to devastated communities torn apart by fires (C-M, Jan 4) that have spurred him into action, it does not matter.

Finally he has done the right thing, cancelled his trip to India and Japan, brought in the trusted ADF in droves, with equipment and other resources aplenty and secured another water bomber to fight the war on fire.

There are a couple of things that do worry me though.

Why does he have to quote the huge dollar cost of these initiatives paid for out of Federal Government coffers? People do not care how much it costs, it needs to be done.

Besides, quarantined in each federal Budget are huge dollars for disaster relief. How it is used should not be a political tool in the current environment.

The huge anomaly now is, why are the jobs of the ADF Reserves protected under federal law, and they are fully reimbursed with full pay when called on to serve, when volunteer firefighters and others who make similar sacrifices away from their families and places of employment are not granted the same privilege, when working alongside the ADF people?

All they get is a “word of thanks” to sustain their families when on the frontline. Is that fair and just?

I welcome the news of more tangible resources and the PM’s promises to “rebuild” broken communities after the event.

One wonders just how far that commitment will go and whether his plan will work and please everybody.

Les Bryant, Durack

IT’S disgraceful that the Liberal Party should produce and air on social media a promotional video talking up Scott Morrison and his government’s response to the bushfires.

The video was released on Saturday as catastrophic fires hit NSW and Victoria, and was watched more than 1.5 million times.

It seems that former marketer Morrison is more interested in his own image and massaging the message than acting as a true leader for all Australians at this tragic time.

Bob Meadows, Mansfield

THERE is no pleasing some people.

One journalist boldly questioned if Scott Morrison’s response was the same as President George W. Bush’s tardy reaction to Hurricane Katrina.

Morrison has two young daughters and his family deserved a holiday away from home together.

The Prime Minister could not have predicted that hundreds of bushfires would cause such devastation. He doesn’t have a magic wand and there was nothing he could do except return from his holiday early and travel to “ground zero” where people were sheltering.

I was embarrassed when a few rude victims heckled and jeered the Prime Minister.

Some of them were so disrespectful and refused to shake hands with him. One was an uninformed 20-year-old female and another was a male firefighter who had taken a break from fighting fires.

These ill-mannered people should have reciprocated when the PM extended his arm in a handshake.

Why people are taking out their anger and frustration on the Prime Minister is baffling.

What did these people expect from him?

He didn’t go off half-cocked and make promises he couldn’t fulfil.

On Saturday, he announced a comprehensive, well-thought out plan he has enacted to help the hundreds of homeless victims.

The PM is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.

The people who rebuked him should be ashamed of themselves.

Refusing to shake hands with their Prime Minister is un-Australian.

Lizzie Haydon, Runcorn

SCOTT Morrison is between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the bushfire crisis.

If he keeps out of the way he’s lambasted for not caring, and if he

turns up he’s abused by those who feel the inferno is somehow his fault.

I watched the confrontation with bushfire victim Zoey Salucci McDermott who was understandably distraught and becoming more so while Morrison was close by. The PM wisely avoided a messy scene by making himself scarce. I would have done the same. 

McDermott’s expletive-ridden social media post is unlikely to gain any sympathy either.

Under our Constitution, Morrison’s hands are practically tied, but he’s the guy who mobilised the armed forces. 

Although not trained firefighters, military personnel are invaluable in logistics, communications and evacuation support.

Perhaps McDermott would be better served venting her anger and frustration on the Greens who have influenced state governments to allow fire-reduction management to fall into such pitiful decline. 

Richard Marman, Meridan Plains

REMEMBER when in 2017 Scott Morrison thought it hilarious to bring into Question Time in the House of Representatives a lump of coal.

The apparent intention was to show how harmless it was.

He and his mindless sycophants had a great laugh over this. So who is laughing now?

What does this say about Morrison’s real attitude to climate change and the present crisis we find ourselves in?

More importantly, what does it say about Morrison’s credentials to lead this nation?

I think he is getting everything he deserves.

Lawrence Di Bartolo, Kedron

SCOTT Morrison, who the majority lauded only recently as the messiah for saving this country from the disasters that Bill Shorten/Labor would have incurred, is now becoming the pariah.

We have spent, debated and politicised so much time on finding someone to blame, instead of focusing every ounce of effort in helping those affected and how we all can help them move forward.

Once this crisis is under control, we also need to have an objective discussion, including understanding that the states and not the federal government are responsible for fire policies, the contribution that the Greens’ policies have had, and what resources the federal government has and how these can be used.

This is a problem for all Australians, not just one man.

Patrick Mackey, Acacia Ridge 

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BEWARE OF RETALIATION

IF HISTORY is of any consequence, we can expect a couple of predictable outcomes following the assassination several high-ranking Iranian military figures by the US (C-M, Jan 4).

Firstly, there will be the usual spike in fuel prices that follow any military action in the Middle East.

Secondly, there will most likely be some form of retaliation orchestrated by Iran, and conducted in an unlikely location.

Tellingly, there was a recent joint military exercise involving Russia, China and Iran.

This does not bode well for any so-called peace talks, even though most Western observers are aware the Communist powers represent a huge danger around the globe.

The next major conflict will be international misery on a massive scale, and just one of the superpowers could initiate it by belligerent or hasty action.

Let us hope that we have not reached that point.

Peter Corran, Wakerley

SO MUCH for President Donald Trump’s promise to not involve the US in any more overseas conflicts and to bring the troops home.

He attacks and kills an Iranian military leader and sends in more soldiers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison shouldn’t take that call.

We owe America nothing. We repaid our debt a long time ago.

Cherie Alexander, Runcorn

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