‘We need to quit coal and cut pollution’: Greens MP is blasted for using the deadly bushfires to rant about climate change
- Adam Bandt has been accused of politicising the devastating NSW bushfires
- The Greens MP said he was ‘deeply saddened by the loss of life’ on Twitter
- But he turned on Scott Morrison and blamed his leadership for the blazes
- Several users criticised Mr Bandt for using the fires to rant about climate change
Greens MP Adam Bandt has been slammed for using the deadly bushfires as an excuse to rant about climate change.
The Melbourne-based MP and Greens spokesman for climate change took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon as bushfires continued to ravage the NSW mid north coast.
‘I’m deeply saddened by the loss of life. Hearts go out to all affected & to brave firefighters. But words &concern are not enough,’ he wrote.
‘The PM does not have the climate emergency under control. Unless we lead a global effort to quit coal & cut pollution, more lives will be lost.’
Hundreds of people were quick to accuse Mr Bandt of politicising the fires – which have already killed three people and destroyed more than 150 homes.
Greens MP Adam Bandt (pictured) has been slammed for using the deadly bushfires as an excuse to rant about climate change
The Greens spokesman for climate change took to Twitter on Saturday night to rant about climate change
‘Great to see the Greens trying to push a political ideal when people are dying,’; wrote one person
‘Declaring a climate emergency will achieve NOTHING. It requires action, not a token gesture. How about trying to do something productive?’
‘But words are not enough… we must also use this push my political agenda and suggest that I, and not our PM, have the godly ability to control climate change,’ added another.
Others took issue with Mr Bandt’s assertion that coal mines were directly to blame for the recent bushfires.
‘Why do you continue lying to people when you know yourself that coal is not to blame for bushfires which been occurring for countless years?’ one wrote.
One added: ‘Oh my friend, please don’t make a tragic loss of life into a political statement. For a moment, just mourn the loss and pay respect to their families.’
Another user told Mr Bandt to go out and fight the fire before trying ‘to earn the respect of middle Australia’.
A mass of users (pictured) criticised his tweet, which blamed Prime Minister Scott Morrison for not having the ‘climate emergency under control’
Mr Bandt in a statement said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the loss of life.
But he turned on Mr Morrison, saying he ‘bears some responsibility’ and must apologise to the communities impacted.
‘Scott Morrison has not got the climate crisis under control,’ he said.
‘Let me be clear. I’m not saying the prime minister is directly responsible for the fires and the loss of life, but he has contributed to making it more likely that these kinds of tragedies will occur.’
Mr Morrison on Saturday declined to respond to questions asking if the bushfires were linked to climate change.
In an earlier tweet, Mr Morrison described the bushfires as ‘simply terrifying’, while Labor Leader Anthony Albanese said their ferocity was ‘unimaginable’.
‘Our main thoughts and our prayers are with those who have been so directly and horribly impacted by these fires,’ Mr Morrison told reporters on Saturday.
A firefighter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar, NSW, on Saturday
Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree, 350km north of Sydney on Saturday