Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced renewed criticism, after yesterday sharing bushfire-themed party campaign ads that opponents condemned as “disgusting” and a respected defense association said was “milking” the crisis.
Facing sustained anger for his handling of the months-long crisis, Morrison sought to get on the front foot by announcing increased military assistance to beleaguered volunteer firefighters.
In a string of media appearances, he vowed every resource would be provided to help ease a disaster that has killed 23 people and burned swathes of the country, announcing more funding for water-bombing planes and the call-up of 3,000 reservists.
Photo: AFP
Yet he found himself in fresh scandal late in the day after tweeting a video heralding his announcements about the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and his Liberal Party made a similar post linking to the party Web site.
The non-partisan Australia Defence Association, a public interest watchdog, said that the Liberal Party advert was a “clear breach” of conventions keeping the military out of politics and accused the party of “milking ADF support to civil agencies fighting bushfires.”
There was more fervent criticism from Morrison’s political opponents for his tweet that promised “more Defence Force boots on the ground, more planes in the sky, more ships to sea, and more trucks to roll in to support the bushfire fighting effort.”
The tweet was accompanied by a military-themed video that was “authorised by S. Morrison, Liberal Party, Canberra.”
Australian Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy said that Morrison was trying to “exploit a national tragedy” and described the ad as a “new low.”
“To then solicit donations to the Liberal Party while millions of Aussies are giving to fire appeals is beyond belief. Note this disgusting ad was personally authorised by this scum of a PM,” he tweeted.
Australian Senator Murray Watt, from the Labor Party, also took to Twitter to demand Morrison “show some respect to fire victims, the fireys [firefighters], the ADF, and the people facing fire fronts right now. Take down this Liberal Party ad. Now.”
Morrison was earlier forced to cut short a Hawaii holiday following a barrage of criticism for vacationing while exhausted volunteer firefighters battled blazes across the country and millions of people in Sydney choked on toxic smoke.
Criticism of Morrison’s absence was widespread, sparking street protests and a flood of angry social media posts demanding #whereisscomo.
He returned and promptly visited bushfire-hit communities where he was heckled by residents and criticized by a party ally.
A tearful pregnant woman and a volunteer firefighter refused to shake his hand and other residents peppered him with verbal abuse and suggested, colorfully, that he leave.
“People in these situations have a mix of emotions,” Morrison said playing down the interactions and stressing he had been welcomed elsewhere.
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