Scott Morrison Reckons He’s Been Providing Comfort “On So Many Occasions” For Bushfire Victims
"The decision I make is to turn up. And if people are upset, I'll listen to that upset. If people are looking for comfort, then I will provide that comfort, and have been pleased to do so on so many occasions."
Scott Morrison has had a disastrous few months.
The man who fell upwards into the top job in the country has finally been put through his first real leadership test, and he’s failed, woefully. First, he scarpered from the country on an expensive holiday. Then, he turned his back on bushfire victims. And finally, he provided little in relief to the Rural Fire Service — financial or otherwise.
But if you ask Morrison how he reckons he’s been doing, he’ll tell you that he’s done a great job.
When questioned on his performance so far on ABC’s 7:30 Report, Morrison snapped out a series of half-truths and weak excuses, desperately trying to drum up support for a government that have hit new lows of unpopularity.
“It hasn’t been your finest week, has it?” 7:30 host Michael Rowland asked.
“Well Michael I have to correct you there,” Morrison replied. “Look, I’ve been out there on fire grounds and meeting people since September … And you’re right, there’s a variety of responses you get during these events, it’s very emotionally raw. People have lost everything.”
“But why the hostile reception for you in particular?” Rowland asked, referring to an incident where Morrison was shouted out of Cobargo.
“Well, in the circumstance you refer to, I was the first politician at a senior level to have walked into that very affected community. And that wasn’t the universal response.
“There’s a myriad of responses you get in these environments. And when you choose to take the media along, they’ll focus on some elements and not on others. That’s the decision others make. But the decision I make is to turn up. And if people are upset, I’ll listen to that upset. If people are looking for comfort, then I will provide that comfort, and have been pleased to do so on so many occasions.”
Which, of course, is untrue — when asked for help by the grieving Cobargo resident, Scott Morrison turned and walked away.
And he shouldn’t be allowed to forget it.
Watch the entire exchange below.
“It hasn't been your finest week has it?” @mjrowland68 asks Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP. #abc730 #auspol pic.twitter.com/tJZ8GgfsXt
— abc730 (@abc730) January 9, 2020