PM Scott Morrison’s ‘tin ear’ moment on bushfires

Scott Morrison has experienced a rare ‘tin ear’ moment, says Geoff Chambers. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian.

Scott Morrison has acknowledged he made a mistake in taking a pre-Christmas family holiday to Hawaii during a ferocious fire season.

For a Prime Minister who has demonstrated empathy and understanding for Australians during times of crisis, this was a rare “tin ear” moment.

The overseas family holiday was a curious decision made worse by the mishandling of its public management.

An attempt to keep the media from reporting the holiday was unwise and at the very least, a statement should have been released signalling the time-off and making clear that Morrison would stay across developments on bushfires and the White Island tragedy.

Morrison keeps his family close and attempts to separate his personal life from politics. But an unfortunate reality for Prime Ministers is that sacrifices are needed.

Nobody in Australia – aside from the hysterical keyboard warrior activists and haters – begrudge Morrison for taking time off.

But as he conceded in his statement today, Morrison now “deeply” regretted the offence he had caused to Australians affected by the bushfires.

Morrison’s predecessors, including John Howard and Tony Abbott, would make a point of staying close to home. In times of crisis, the tyranny of distance is amplified.

As NSW faced a state of emergency, an image appearing to show Morrison in Hawaii posing with tourists was a shocker. .

With no end in sight to the summer bushfire season, Morrison will return to Australia and hit the ground running. Expect further announcements in the next few weeks.

The mishandling of the Hawaii trip potentially complicates Morrison’s visits to India and Japan in January. The harsh reality of Australian summers – bushfires, cyclones and blackouts – could spark a new debate over Morrison remaining in the nation in the event of catastrophic natural disasters.

While Greens activists protest outside Kirribilli House and inner-city whingers complain about smoke – firefighters, regional communities and emergency services personnel are doing the heavy lifting keeping the nation safe. And Morrison knows he must have their backs.