NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott to return from European holiday

Emergency Services Minister David Elliott will come home from his European jaunt after a deadly day of bushfires that devastated his state.

After his state experienced a deadly day of ferocious bushfires that killed three people in 24 hours – including a volunteer firefighter – New South Wales Emergency Services Minister David Elliott is returning from his European holiday.

The widely criticised jaunt, which Mr Elliott left for amid the worsening crisis, will now be cut short in the wake of the ongoing devastation.

But critics say the decision is too little, too late and the man responsible for the state’s response to major crises shouldn’t have left in the first place.

Last night, Mr Elliott’s staff initially told The Sydney Morning Herald that he wouldn’t be coming home despite the loss of life, mass evacuations and enormous destruction of property.
But an hour later, Mr Elliott performed a U-turn on that decision, releasing a brief statement to confirm his urgent return to Sydney.

“In light of the escalating damage toll to the South Coast and the tragic loss of a further two civilians and one RFS volunteer, I have decided to return to Australia to stand with our selfless volunteer firefighters and bushfire affected communities as we get through this period of devastating loss,” he said in a statement.

RELATED: Wife of bushfire victim Patrick Salway, who died alongside dad Robert, has been left ‘broken’

NSW Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott jetted off to Europe in the midst of the state’s bushfires crisis. Picture: AAP

The crew from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 509 Wyoming recorded this video showing the moment their truck was overrun by the bushfire burning South of Nowra. Picture: NSW Fire and Rescue

Mr Elliott’s stunning decision, hot on the heels of Prime Minister Scott Morrison being attacked for travelling to Hawaii with his family during the bushfires, has been criticised by many.

Oh, the minister for strip searching children... sorry, the NSW Minister for Emergency Services and Strip-Searching Children will cut short his European holiday because of the bushfires: report. https://t.co/EPgrJKuUXH

— Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) December 31, 2019

To be fair, unless the job is pretending to be a policeman or stacking branches with fellow nut job Christians, David Elliott is so useless it is probably best for all he be as far away from important things. (And as he is my local member I endorse this statement. ) https://t.co/86NkAibTDY

— Bernard Zuel (@BernardZuel) December 31, 2019

This is David Elliott, the NSW Emergency Services Minuster who deserted his post at the first whiff of an emergency. Dave the Deserter. ⁦@GladysB⁩ pic.twitter.com/NjABvbzHHB

— Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) December 31, 2019

On this day of bushfire emergency, spare a thought for NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott, holidaying in Europe. He's been in dereliction (def: shameful failure to fulfill obligations) of duty since Tuesday. https://t.co/hWqlARptX6

— Frank Jotzo (@frankjotzo) December 31, 2019

Given David Elliott's past record, we're better off with him overseas. He'd just as likely be booking RFS trucks for illegally parking!

— Justin Holland (@novahollandia) December 31, 2019

Some 100 fires continue to burn across NSW, with half of them uncontained and out of control.

While Mr Elliott continued his holiday in London yesterday, thousands of firefighters – many of them fatigued after several weeks of work, and unpaid volunteers – worked at the frontline of fires across the state.

The NSW South Coast, one of the worst-hit on a hellish New Year’s Eve, has been given brief reprieve overnight thanks to lower temperatures.

Those milder conditions are expected to continue for next few days across NSW before a return of catastrophic heat and winds that’s forecast on Saturday.

Gary Hinton stands among rubble after fires devastated the New South Wales town of Cobargo. Picture: AFP

Yesterday, the community of Cobargo was hit by tragedy with the death of Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who perished while trying to defend the family farm from fire.
It came hours after the volunteer firey who died on the Victoria-NSW border late on Monday night was named as expectant father Sam McPaul, 28.

The 10-tonne fire truck Sam was travelling in was rolled over by intense winds, described as a ‘fire tornado’ by authorities, on a property at Jingellic, east of Albury.

Patrick Salway, with his wife Renee, died trying to defend his property against a bushfire at Cobargo with his father Robert Salway.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday was questioned about the timing of Mr Elliott’s absence but resisted calls to order his return.

“At the end of the day, the buck stops with me,” Ms Berejiklian said.

But Mr Elliott will now be back at his post “in coming days”.