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Associated Press

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday apologised for taking a family holiday in Hawaii as deadly bush fires raged across several states, destroying homes and claiming the lives of two volunteer firefighters.
Morrison cut short a holiday with his wife and children amid public anger at his absence from Australia at a time of national crisis.
News of his holiday prompted street protests and widespread criticism on social media, with Australians deploying the hashtag #WhereTheBloodyHellAreYa?
He arrived home Saturday and on Sunday morning spoke to reporters while visiting the headquarters of the Rural Fire Service in Sydney.

“If you had your time over again and you had the benefit of hindsight, we would have made different decisions,” Morrison said.
“I am sure Australians are fair-minded and understand that when you make a promise to your kids you try and keep it.”
Australia’s bush fires: the burning issue Scott Morrison refuses to discuss
He added: “But as prime minister, you have other responsibilities and I accept that and I accept the criticism.”
Morrison said this was not a time for political point-scoring but a “time to be kind to each other”.
He said he is not a trained firefighter, “but I’m comforted by the fact that Australians would like me to be here just simply so I can be here, alongside them, as they are going through this terrible time”.

Morrison also answered critics who say his government has not done enough to fight climate change, which has been cited as a major factor in the spate of fires burning across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. He said there were also “many other factors” responsible for the unprecedented number of fires during a record-breaking heatwave.
Australia declares state of emergency as heat records topple, fires rage
“There is no argument … about the links between broader issues of global climate change and weather events around the world,” he said.
“But I’m sure people equally would acknowledge that the direct connection to any single fire event – it’s not a credible suggestion to make that link.”

Rural Fire Service Commission Shane Fizsimmons described Saturday as an “awful day” for firefighters as strong southerly winds fanned more than 100 fires in New South Wales alone.
Conditions eased markedly on Sunday, giving them time to count the toll and try to contain massive blazes that are only likely to be extinguished with heavy rainfall.
Dozens of homes have been lost since Thursday in massive wildfires, including the Gospers Mountain blaze that covered more than 460,000 hectares (1.1 million acres). A fire-generated thunderstorm formed over one blaze at Shoalhaven on Saturday, escalating the fire danger.
Thirty firefighters from Canada and nine from the United States were among fresh crews set to join the battle against the fires on Sunday.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg and Agence France-Presse


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Australia

Australia’s PM sorry for taking Hawaii holiday as fires and public raged back home

NSW Rural Fire Service crews fight the ‘Gospers Mountain Fire’ in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Photo: EPA

Kangaroos gather at a residential law as bushfires continue to spread, in Berrara Beach, Australia December 21, 2019 in this picture obtained from social media. Linda Robinson/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

The potential areas where bushfires may spread in New South Wales on Saturday, December 21, 2019, are illustrated in a map obtained from the NSW Rural Fire Service. NSW Rural Fire Service/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

(191221) -- SYDNEY, Dec. 21, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Combo photo shows the Blue Mountain area before (top, taken on May 15, 2019) and after the bushfire (bottom, taken on Dec. 21, 2019) in New South Wales, Australia. The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia once again declared a state of emergency because of the devastating bushfire on Thursday. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

Australia’s bush fires: the burning issue Scott Morrison refuses to discuss

Toxic haze has blanketed Sydney as severe weather conditions fuel deadly bush fires along Australia’s east coast. Photo: AFP

The remains of a property destroyed by fire is seen in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney on November 9, 2019, as firefighters try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes that are raging in the state of New South Wales. - Catastrophic bushfires in eastern Australia have killed at least three people and forced thousands from their homes, with the death toll expected to rise as firefighters struggle towards hard-to-reach communities. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)

epa08048180 Smoke haze from bushfires in New South Wales blankets the central business district of Sydney, Australia, 06 December 2019. Bushfire conditions are expected to worsen along the east coast of Australia on 06 December, from the far south of New South Wales to south-east Queensland. EPA-EFE/BIANCA DE MARCHI AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Australia declares state of emergency as heat records topple, fires rage

A home is lost to a bush fire in southwest Sydney as a huge blaze threatens communities across New South Wales. Photo: EPA

A helicopter drops fire retardent to protect a property in Balmoral, 150 kilometres southwest of Sydney on December 19, 2019. - A state of emergency was declared in Australia's most populated region on December 19, as a record heat wave fanned unprecedented bushfires. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)

epaselect epa08080914 A swimmer jumps in the water as smoke haze from bushfires in New South Wales blankets Sydney, Australia, 19 December 2019. Soaring temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and north westerly winds are fanning a number of fires around Sydney. EPA-EFE/JOEL CARRETT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

A bushfire burns on a property in Balmoral, 150 kilometres southwest of Sydney on December 19, 2019. - A state of emergency was declared in Australia's most populated region on December 19, as a record heat wave fanned unprecedented bushfires. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)

19 December 2019, Australia, Sydney: Protesters hold placards on the road outside of the Kirribilli House ministerial residence during a demonstration against Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, demanding action against the ongoing bushfire amid reports that Morrison and his family left to spend the holidays in Hawaii. Photo: Steven Saphore/AAP/dpa

epaselect epa08080905 Smoke from a bushfire approaches the Old Hume Highway near the town of Tahmoor, NSW, Australia, 19 December 2019. Soaring temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and north westerly winds are fanning a number of fires around Sydney. EPA-EFE/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

19 December 2019, Australia, Sydney: Police vehicles stand in front of raging flames during an operation to put out bushfire that broke out along the Old Hume Highway. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP/dpa

19 December 2019, Australia, Sydney: A fireman battles flames amid an operation to put out a bushfire that broke out along the Old Hume Highway. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP/dpa

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Record bush fires have destroyed an area the size of Belgium and cloaked major cities in choking toxic fumes
PM Scott Morrison cuts short family holiday to attend to the fire crisis, saying he accepts the criticism



Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledges the optics of his absence weren’t good.


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