Prime Minister Scott Morrison harangued by locals in bushfire stricken town of Cobargo

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has acknowledged that “people are angry” with him in an interview on radio this morning.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has responded to abuse from locals who berated him at the fire-ravaged town of Cobargo.

Mr Morrison acknowledged that “people are angry” with him in an interview on radio station 3AW this morning.

Mr Morrison was heckled and at least one firefighter refused to shake his hand during the visit to the NSW town yesterday.

The town was one of the hardest hit from the devastating infernos that tore across the state’s south east on New Year’s Eve.

Asked about the criticism, Mr Morrison acknowledged people were angry, whether it was with him or with the situation.

“All I know is that they are hurting, and it’s my job to try and offer some comfort and support,” he said.

“That’s my job, I don’t take these things personally, why would I?”

He said he understood the hurt and frustration and that people often fixated on people like the prime minister in these situations.

When asked whether he was confident the government had done all it could, Mr Morrison said there had been massive fires across five states and it was the government’s role to support and give every assistance to the states.

At this point he still plans to go to India on Sunday next week.

A woman angrily confronts Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the township of Cobargo. Picture: Supplied

His comments come after he received criticism from his own party, with a NSW Coalition Minister saying “locals gave him the welcome he probably deserved”.

This morning on Sunrise, Bega state Liberal MP and NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said he did not know the PM was visiting.

“I didn’t even know he was coming and I haven’t had a call from him, so to be honest with you, the locals gave him the welcome he probably deserved,” Mr Constance said.

“I’d say this to the Prime Minister today – the nation wants you to open up the cheque books, obviously help people rebuild their lives.

“I know this is tough and I know I’m on his side of politics, but, you know, (NSW Premier) Gladys (Berejiklian) and (RFS Commissioner) Shane Fitzsimmons came here two days ago and they obviously visited the fire-affected part of my electorate in the north … this is the feeling that people are going through and I really need everybody to rally together and support each other.

“Having lived through this myself, it’s tough … it’s cruel, it’s nasty. The Cobargo community lost people.”

"The locals gave him the welcome he probably deserved"@AndrewConstance - local MP for Bega - responds after Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP copped a spray from angry #bushfire victims in his electorate. pic.twitter.com/tm6QCgroSF

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) January 2, 2020

The prime minister has been widely criticised for an alleged lack of meaningful action to help communities deal with the hundreds of fires that have lashed the country for the last several months.

But his attempt to get out into the fire-affected regions was reportedly met with disdain, with angry protesters telling Mr Morrison he should be “ashamed of himself” and that he’s “left the country to burn”.

The prime minister was asked by one local why “we only had four trucks to defend our town?”

“What about the money for our forgotten corner of NSW Mr Prime Minister,” the woman said. “How come we only had four trucks to defend our town, cause our town doesn’t have a lot of money but we have hearts of gold Mr Prime Minister.”

Later the same woman said: “What about the people who are dead now, Mr Prime Minister? What about the people who have nowhere to live?”

Another man said: “Nah you’re an idiot mate. You really are.”

Another said: “What about people around here. Nobody. No Liberal votes. You’re out son. You are out. Goodnight Vienna. Bye. Go on p*** off.”

“Go home to Kirribilli. Why won’t that burn down?” another local was heard shouting.

“I don’t see Kirribilli burning after the fireworks.”

An angry protester has told Scott Morrison he should be "ashamed of himself" and that he's "left the country to burn" during a tour of the burnt out town of Cobargo late this afternoon. #auspol #NSWbushfires

— Victoria Pengilley (@vicpengilley) January 2, 2020

Desperate scenes in Cobargo. One protester yelling at the PM: "How come we only had four trucks to defend our town? This is not fair, we are totally forgotten about down here." #auspol #NSWbushfires @politicsabc

— Victoria Pengilley (@vicpengilley) January 2, 2020

Mr Morrison later told the ABC, “I’m not surprised people are feeling very raw at the moment.

“And, that’s why I came today, to be here, to see it for myself; offer what comfort I could.

“But you can’t always in every circumstance, I think everyone understands that.

“I appreciate the welcome we’ve received, Jenny and I, but at the same time, I understand the very strong feelings that people have.

“They’ve lost everything and there are still some very dangerous days ahead. We’re going to do everything we can to ensure they have every support they need.”

Cobargo was one of the hardest hit on New Year’s Eve. Picture: Stuart McEvoy/The Australian.

Mr Morrison has come under sustained criticism of his handling of the bushfire crisis.

He was forced to cut short a US holiday and eyebrows were raised when he hosted the Australian and New Zealand cricket teams at Sydney’s Kirribilli House yesterday while fires were burning in NSW and Victoria.

Yesterday police confirmed a Cobargo father and son died trying to defend their home from the devastating fire that almost completely destroyed the historic NSW village.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny visit Cobargo. Picture: Sean Davey.

The death of 29-year-old Patrick Salway, who died alongside his father as they tried to save their southern NSW farm from fire, has devastated his wife.

“I love you now, I love you still, I always have and I always will,” Renee Salway said on Tuesday night.

“I will see you again Patrick, my best friend. Hope you are up there ‘fixing things in the stars tonight’.”

Tragically, Renee is pregnant with the couple’s second child.

Patrick, a young father and dairy technician, and his 63-year-old father Robert Salway were found dead on Tuesday by Robert’s wife.

The men had stayed back to save the family home in Wandella, about 10km northwest of the gutted township of Cobargo.

Mr Morrison shut down any questions relating to the government’s perceived inaction at a press conference in Sydney earlier on Thursday.

“Our task has been to fully support and provide whatever assistance is necessary through all the various agencies of the Commonwealth,” he told reporters.

“The provision of disaster payments that have now exceeded some more than $21 million in New South Wales alone and we expect more of that to continue in Victoria as the full devastation of the fires there becomes more evident.”

Originally published as Prime Minister Scott Morrison harangued by locals in bushfire stricken town of Cobargo