Prime Minister Scott Morrison says bushfire effort in Tasmania exemplifies ‘Australia at its best’
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison says the Tasmanian community’s response to the bushfire crisis is an example of “Australia at its best”.
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PRIME Minister Scott Morrison says the Tasmanian community’s response to the bushfire crisis is an example of “Australia at its best”.
Mr Morrison and Premier Will Hodgman toured the evacuation centre at Huonville today, paid a visit to firefighters and dropped in on local businesses affected by the fires.
Also in Huonville today was Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who called on the Federal Government to be generous in its financial support for fire-affected communities.
Mr Morrison said he was impressed by what he saw during his brief stay.
“It’s always a pleasure to see Australia at its best — and here in the Huon we’re seeing Australia at its best,” he said.
“I want to commend everyone for the volunteer effort they have put in, those who’ve opened up their homes, those who volunteered to support those who are out fighting the fires.
“I particularly want to thank those firefighters that come from interstate as well — not just the volunteers here who have been turning up, those have come from across the ditch, the specialist firefighters who have come across from New Zealand.”
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Mr Morrison reserved particular praise for the efforts made to protect the state’s wild natural areas and urged tourist to continue to visit.
“Places like the Walls of Jerusalem, Cradle Mountain, all of these places are unaffected by these fires, and I want Australians to know that. Please come to Tasmania again soon,” he said.
“This state will be looking to support, whether it’s here in the Huon or elsewhere.
“The way all Australians, I think, can help Tasmanians and those affected here (is) by coming visiting and experiencing one of the great natural wonders of the world.
“The people are just as friendly, if not more, the coffee still just as good, the salmon are better than ever. All of this is fantastic. Tasmania is a wonderful place to come and visit and it’s important that we get that message out about Tasmania and that we would encourage people to come and visit and stick with their plans to come and have a great time here in this wonderful state.”
Mr Hodgman said he had been in close contact with the Federal Government since the beginning of the fire crisis and said he was satisfied adequate resources had been made available.
“One of the first questions I’ve asked and my minister asked on day one is whether or not we have satisfactory capability here in Tasmania and whether with the supplementation from the interstate that’s adequate to meet the fire challenge we face and the answer has been unequivocally ‘yes’.
“That does not mean that there won’t be lessons we learn from this experience — and there will, of course, be an opportunity to again revisit this once this event passes.”
Mr Shorten said the key to helping Tasmania recover from the fires was the Federal Government providing strong financial support.
“I just want to reassure Tasmanians. I’m here today because I want to make sure that you get your fair share,” Mr Shorten said.
“You pay taxes to Canberra and really when there’s a time and disaster that’s when you want to see reimbursement to the businesses — in particular the small businesses — not just in the Huon Valley but in other parts of Tasmania.
“I’ve said that I want the Prime Minister to bring the cheque book on behalf of the Government. Now is not the time to be stingy or bureaucratic.
“I’ve seen fire recovery and reconstruction before all over Australia. Now is not the time for Government to go missing.”
Mr Shorten expressed sympathy for those who had lost their homes to the fires and urged them to seek help if they were struggling with the distress that had caused.
“People react to stress in different ways and it can come up and affect them at different times. There’s no embarrassment and seeking help and getting support and I know the services are there.”
Can’t believe the PM has dared show his face in the Huon Valley today. That community has been suffering for weeks in the face of fires made more dangerous by his love affair with coal. He should get down on his knees and apologise to them.
— Nick McKim (@NickMcKim) February 4, 2019
Greens Senator Nick McKim said Mr Morrison should have apologised to Huon Valley residents for making Tasmania’s fires more dangerous via his “love affair with coal”.
“I can’t believe he had to gall to show his face in Tasmania after waving around a lump of coal in parliament and telling us it’s good for us,” Senator McKim said.
‘YOU’RE NOT NICK, YOU’RE A D***’
“Climate science is clear that Tasmania will face more bushfires and they will be more dangerous as a result of burning fossil fuels.
“Fossil fools like Mr Morrison should stay out of Tasmania until they are prepared to accept the science and adopt a decent climate policy.”
Mr Morrison rejected Mr McKim’s comments as “offensive” and a “cheap shot”.
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