Australia’s PM admits partial guilt in bushfire response

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has admitted partial responsibility in inadequately responding to the bushfires scorching land and killing people and wildlife across the country for months.

In an interview with ABC on Sunday, Morrison rejected criticism that his government had not done enough before the bushfire season started but admitted that once the fires started, some responses could have been different.

“There are things I could have handled on the ground much better,” Morrison said, adding, however, “These are sensitive environments, there are very emotional environments; prime ministers are flesh and blood too in how they engage with people.”

He also said he would propose a national review of the response to the bushfires. “There is obviously a need for a national review of the response,” Morrison said.

Asked whether the review should be conducted by a powerful Royal Commission, the Australian prime minister replied, “I think that is what would be necessary and I will be taking a proposal through the cabinet to that end, but it must be done with consultations with the states and territories.”

Faced with an increase of public pressure to tackle climate issues, Morrison also said his government would look into improving its performance on curbing emissions.

“We want to reduce emissions and do the best job we possibly can and get better and better and better at it,” he said. “I want to do that with a balanced policy which recognizes Australia’s broader national economic interests and social interest.”

Morrison had so far been defiant in rejecting any links between his government’s conservative policies regarding climate change and the bushfires.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that the federal government should have acted earlier to address the disaster.

Thousands of Australians took to the streets on Friday to protest against alleged government inaction on climate change.

ME