NewsBite

Scott Morrison slammed for insensitive comments about Australian bushfires

Prime Minster Scott Morrison is being criticised after suggesting the bushfire crisis is happening against the backdrop of test cricket.

Stephanie BedoStephanie Bedo
@stephanie_bedo
2 min read
January 2, 2020 - 9:38AM
PM praises the work of NZ firefighters ahead of New Year's Test

Scott Morrison has landed himself in hot water again after remarks about the bushfires and cricket.

The Prime Minister was speaking on Wednesday afternoon at a reception for the Australian and New Zealand cricket sides at Kirribilli House, which is a yearly tradition.

Mr Morrison said it was a time of great challenge for Australia and the fires were happening against the backdrop of the Australia-New Zealand test match.

“Whether they’re started by lightning storms or whatever the cause may be, our firefighters and all of those have come behind them to support them, whether they’re volunteering on the front line or behind the scenes in a great volunteer effort, it is something that will happen against the backdrop of this test match,” he said.

“But at the same time Australians will be gathered whether it’s at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) or around television sets all around the country and they’ll be inspired by the great feats of our cricketers from both sides of the Tasman and I think they’ll be encouraged by the spirit shown by Australians and the way that people have gone about remembering the terrible things that other Australians are dealing with at the moment.”

Many were not impressed with his sentiment, saying they weren’t inspired by the cricket at all.

Some said he should not have even been at the reception while bushfires continue to rage across the country.

LATEST ON THE FIRE EMERGENCY HERE

“I’m inspired by the firefighters, by the police, by the community lifting together. By the resilience of Australians and unity right now. NOT by the cricketers,” wrote one woman on Twitter.

Another man commented, “This is far and away the most mind numbingly banal, tin eared and ludicrously inappropriate thing anyone could possibly say in these circumstances”.

Another man said he read the comment out to his family and they were stunned in silence.

RELATED: Resident shares photos from ‘apocalypse’

RELATED: Deadly fire conditions back for ‘spike’ day

RELATED: World reacts to ‘apocalyptic’ fires

RELATED: Half a billion animals perish in fires

One even asked if it was satire and said it couldn’t be real.

Another said, “I love cricket, but this is close to insane. Trying to mesh some enjoyable sport with a national disaster is pretty much madness”.

It is a yearly tradition for the Australian cricket team and touring national side to meet with the Prime Minister at Kirribilli House on New Year’s Day.

Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard all took part in the festivities when they were in the role.

Morrison copped plenty of criticism in November when he posted a tweet saying Tim Paine and his teammate would give the firefighters and fire-impacted communities “something to cheer for”.

Australian captain Paine acknowledged the firefighters on Wednesday, thanking them for their service and calling them “true heroes”.

“On behalf of the Australian team, I would like to thank the brave men and women who are fighting fires across the country,” he said.

“They are the true heroes of the Aussie summer.”

A further three deaths have been confirmed from the New Year’s Eve fires on the NSW south coast while another man was killed in Victoria’s fire-ravaged East Gippsland region.

The third Test between Australian and New Zealand commences on Friday.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/scott-morrison-slammed-for-insensitive-comments-about-australian-bushfires/news-story/c000756d5f2253495e3fd9fdc2042ac6