Bushfires: refund-seekers should go easy, Scott Morrison tells tourists

Scott Morrison has urged tourists seeking refunds from fire-hit businesses to ‘cut them a break’.

Scott Morrison on Kangaroo Island on Wednesday. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison has urged tourists seeking refunds from fire-hit businesses­ to “cut them a break”, and blasted the “disgusting behaviour” of arsonists, scammers and looters during the fire disaster.

Speaking on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island on Wednesday, the Prime Minister called on international tourists not to cancel their holidays in Australia, declaring that large areas of the country remained “open and ready for business”.

Those forced to cancel holidays in fire-razed tourist towns should go easy on local businesses, Mr Morrison said.

“If you booked accommo­d­ation and you’re now seeking a ­refund, can you cut them a break?” he said.

“That’s in terms, at the very least, of the timing about when you might expect to receive a ­refund.

“These businesses have been hit very hard and their cashflow positions are not going to be in a position where they’re going to be able to meet every request.”

He said if Australians were in a position to forgo refunds, “then why not even let them keep it” or arrange another time to take the holiday.

Mr Morrison said the bushfires had brought out an “amazing” community spirit but the behaviour of some people “just makes your skin crawl, frankly”.

“We can see the best of Aus­t­ralia in these times but also the worst,’’ he said.

“That includes arsonists, scammers and looters.

“What I will say is that’s not Australia, and that is certainly not the overwhelming comprehensive definition of Australia.”

The Prime Minister also confirmed that the government would pass legislation to make disaster payments tax-free, as they had been for previous crises such as the recent Queensland floods.

The firefighters union in every state called on Wednesday for a royal commission to be established to prevent and respond to similar fires in the future.

Firefighters Union of Queensland state secretary John Oliver said with the next fire season ­potentially just nine months away, there needed to be a proper examination of what had occurred.

“We need to have confidence in a body that could be set up to do such work — only a royal commission will give us that,” he said.

Mr Morrison said he was “very open” to the possibility of a royal commission.

“But as I said when this question was put to me the other day, I think this is something we have to work closely with the states on,” he said.

“There are state issues here, and federal responsibilities, and how they work together.”

Visiting a koala recovery centre in Adelaide on Wednesday, ­Anthony Albanese called for a ­national ecological audit to determine the flora and fauna losses from the fires.

“We need to have a real assessment about what the impact is, and a plan working off that of how to move forward to fire restoration,” the Opposition Leader said.

Disaster recovery payments have begun to flow to bushfire-­affected communities, with one-off payments of $1000 for adults and $400 for children, and up to $10,000 in short-term relief for small businesses and $15,000 for farmers. The Australian Council of ­Social Service welcomed the payments but urged the government to triple their value for adults, to $3000, and lift the child payment to $1000.

ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie said the payments “have not been increased since 2006”.

“We are very concerned that the current payments are seriously inadequate, particularly for people on lower incomes and with fewer assets, family and friends to secure transport, alternative housing ­options and immediate recovery resources,” Dr Goldie said.