SM: the response to these fires have been extraordinary. Biggest response ever.
He won’t admit there have been any issues. It’s been great. The anger is the pain and grief, not about him.
SM: they were unprecedented.
Q: former fire chiefs warned it would be a catastrophic season. Should you have listened?
SM: bluster. He says they did take advice and did everything necessary. Again no acknowledgment of a problem.
SM: that’s not true. (He’s denying the report wasn’t used. Lie!)
SM is saying they knew there would be hotter, dryer summers and be put $130 million in budget to prepare.
SM: bluster, that’s not true, called out of the reservists - first time ever - unprecedented response.
Now he’s saying we’re facing a new normal. Rather than response to request, he wants to integrate from start.
He has just said climate change has impacted on fire and we need to look at how we respond.
Q: Are you willing to change your position on climate change?
SM: speed of bluster increases, rattling off periphery things.
SM: let’s talk about right now. He’s just blamed NZ for using carry over credits.
There is no evidence Morrison is changing the emissions reduction policies.
Again, he reiterates he won’t be changing policy.
SM: we are only 1.3% of the global emissions.
Q: should we use carry over credits?
SM: confirms he won’t be bringing in a carbon price. No action.
Q: will you increase targets?
SM: we will continue on as we have been.
Q: are there people who don’t accept climate change in your party? Christensen says arson causes fires.
He won’t answer the question about the views of other people in his party.
SM: blames division in community for misrepresenting the government’s climate change record. (Code, the left are lying).
SM: ‘we’re going to meet and we’re going to beat our targets’.
So answer is no.
Speers asked if he’s taking any responsibly for fault in the response to fires.
SM: in a nutshell, no.
Confirmed there will be no levy or tax to deal with recovery efforts.
SM: in hindsight I wouldn’t have taken that trip if I knew what I do now.
Speers reminds him he’s been defensive about the trip - calling 2GB to say he couldn’t hold a hose.
SM: ‘I texted Albo’. (So what?)
SM: I was going to holiday on the South Coast.
Last question: what lessons have you learned as PM during this crisis.
SM: these are new conditions which no other PM has had to deal with. People want to see me on the ground.