This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/02/scott-morrison-abused-by-bushfire-victims-in-nsw-town-of-cobargo
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Scott Morrison heckled after he tries to shake hands with bushfire victim in NSW town of Cobargo | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Prime minister seen picking up woman’s hand and shaking it before quickly leaving when she says ‘we need help’ and onlookers shout abuse | |
| Scott Morrison was forced to abandon a meet-and-greet in a bushfire-ravaged NSW town after being confronted by angry local residents. | |
| The prime minister on Thursday visited the Bega Valley township of Cobargo, which was engulfed by flames on Tuesday morning. | The prime minister on Thursday visited the Bega Valley township of Cobargo, which was engulfed by flames on Tuesday morning. |
| Three people died and others lost homes, businesses, livestock and pasture when the fire hit the community. | Three people died and others lost homes, businesses, livestock and pasture when the fire hit the community. |
| “How are you?”Morrison asked, as he approaches one woman who has her hands by her side. He then reaches out and takes her hand and starts shaking it. | |
| The woman, who appears reluctant, says: “I’m only shaking your hand if you give more funding to our RFS [Rural Fire Service].” | |
| “So many people have lost their homes.” | “So many people have lost their homes.” |
| Another man tried to prevent the woman from confronting Morrison further, the footage from the Nine Network shows. | Another man tried to prevent the woman from confronting Morrison further, the footage from the Nine Network shows. |
| “We need more help,” she said, as Morrison walked away. | “We need more help,” she said, as Morrison walked away. |
| A group of residents later yelled at the prime minister. | A group of residents later yelled at the prime minister. |
| “You won’t be getting any votes down here buddy. You’re an idiot.” | “You won’t be getting any votes down here buddy. You’re an idiot.” |
| “Go on, piss off.” | “Go on, piss off.” |
| “You’re not welcome.” | “You’re not welcome.” |
| One woman, leading a goat, said Mr Morrison controlled the funding and her community had been forgotten. | One woman, leading a goat, said Mr Morrison controlled the funding and her community had been forgotten. |
| “This is not fair. We are totally forgotten down here,” she said, | “This is not fair. We are totally forgotten down here,” she said, |
| “Every single time this area gets a flood or a fire we get nothing. | “Every single time this area gets a flood or a fire we get nothing. |
| “If we lived in Sydney or on the North Coast we would be flooded with donations and emergency relief.” | “If we lived in Sydney or on the North Coast we would be flooded with donations and emergency relief.” |
| Morrison and the natural disasters minister, David Littleproud, soon left the area. | Morrison and the natural disasters minister, David Littleproud, soon left the area. |
| Littleproud announced shortly afterwards that disaster relief payments would be open for bushfires survivors in the Bega Valley. | Littleproud announced shortly afterwards that disaster relief payments would be open for bushfires survivors in the Bega Valley. |
| Payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child can be claimed through the Department of Human Services. | Payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child can be claimed through the Department of Human Services. |
| “This is for people whose home has been severely damaged or destroyed, who’ve been seriously injured or who’ve lost a family member,” the minister said. | “This is for people whose home has been severely damaged or destroyed, who’ve been seriously injured or who’ve lost a family member,” the minister said. |
| “This will help to cover the immediate needs of those worst hit, and help them get through the coming days.” | “This will help to cover the immediate needs of those worst hit, and help them get through the coming days.” |
| Earlier on Thursday, Morrison defended his government’s response to the crisis saying he wouldn’t allow state and federal governments “to be tripping over each other in order to somehow outbid each other in the response”. | Earlier on Thursday, Morrison defended his government’s response to the crisis saying he wouldn’t allow state and federal governments “to be tripping over each other in order to somehow outbid each other in the response”. |
| “What is needed is the coordinated response that these agencies planned for in circumstances like this,” he told reporters in Sydney. | “What is needed is the coordinated response that these agencies planned for in circumstances like this,” he told reporters in Sydney. |
| “I understand the frustration, I understand the anxiety. I understand the fear but what I also understand is the need to allow the professionals and the experts ... to do their job.” | “I understand the frustration, I understand the anxiety. I understand the fear but what I also understand is the need to allow the professionals and the experts ... to do their job.” |
| At the May 2019 election, Labor’s Mike Kelly retained the marginal seat of Eden-Monaro, which includes Cobargo.Almost half of Cobargo locals’ primary votes went to Kelly, 33% went to Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs and 14% went to the Greens. | |