‘No focus’ on budget surplus as Scott Morrison pledges $2bn to fire recovery effort

Scott Morrison has pledged an additional $2bn to the recovery effort, declaring the budget surplus is of no focus amid fires.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at Parliament House. Picture: Getty Images

Scott Morrison has pledged an additional $2bn to the bushfire recovery effort, declaring the budget surplus is of no focus to him amid a catastrophic fire season that has seen more than 1500 homes destroyed and at least 24 confirmed deaths.

Speaking in Canberra on Monday the Prime Minister said rebuilding communities was his top priority and he would do “whatever it takes” and “whatever it costs” to support Australians affected by a horror bushfire season.

The National Bushfire Recovery Fund, which will be rolled-out over two years, will support local governments, farmers and primary producers, and deliver mental health support to first responders and those who have lost their homes.

“The surplus is no focus for me,” Mr Morrison said following a meeting of the National Security Council. “What matters to me is the human cost and meeting whatever cost we need to meet.”

“What I envisage is guaranteeing to the Australian people at this time of crisis that we will meet every cost that needs to be met, make every investment to assist this crisis and the recovery needs that follow. That is clearly the priority now.”

Mr Morrison credited the government’s strong financial management with its ability to commit significant financial resources to the recovery effort.

“I can tell you that because of the strong financial management of this government, it has put us in a position to do that without having to strike a levy, without having to make offsets in other places that can put the bottom line to work that we have sought to build the financial resilience of this country,” Mr Morrison said.

“The first year we have returned the budget to the position of strength. That can be put straight into work to meet Australians’ needs and that our of need.”

Mr Morrison said the fund will be administered by the new National Bushfire Recovery Agency announced on Sunday and headed by former Australian Federal Police commissioner Andrew Colvin.

“Today in cabinet we have made a number of decisions to support that recovery effort, to do whatever it takes, to do whatever it costs to make those needs to build our resilience for the future and to enable Australians, wherever they are, across the country to be able to go forward in confidence for their futures.”

The announcement comes as Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop seized on the bushfire crisis to call for greater climate change leadership.

When asked about Ms Bishop’s comments, Mr Morrison said the government did not plan on changing its climate change policy.

“Right now, I have to say, my absolute focus is on deploying the $2bn to communities around the country and addressing immediate needs and infrastructure to provide the platform for recovery for these communities,” Mr Morrison said.

“I have said on numerous occasions this government will continue to work to meet and beat the commitments we have made for emission reductions.”

Mr Morrison has come under increasing pressure over his leadership on the bushfires, which began when he took a family holiday to Hawaii before Christmas.

On Sunday a political furore erupted over the government’s failure to tell fire chiefs about its unprecedented compulsory call-out of up to 3000 army reservists.