Hundreds of volunteer firefighters give up their Christmases and Boxing Days to fight bushfires 

Scott Morrison has been slammed for spending Boxing Day on the beach as 1,500 firefighters battled blazes in NSW.

The PM was photographed on Bronte Beach with his mother Marion and two daughters Lily and Abbey on Thursday.

It comes just days after Mr Morrison copped criticism for going to Hawaii as Australia battled one of its worst ever bushfire seasons.

‘This is what our PM was doing on Boxing Day at $550,000 a year plus perks,’ one irate Twitter user said.

‘Come back from Hawaii, took a helicopter trip to get a few selfies for the nightly news and Murdoch rags and then back to doing s**t all!!’ 

Another tweeted a picture of the PM holding the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck alongside a picture of him on the beach.

Scott Morrison has been slammed for spending Boxing Day on the beach as 1,500 firefighters battled blazes in NSW 

One Twitter user photoshopped a picture of Scott Morrison holding the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck after his beach trip

One Twitter user photoshopped a picture of Scott Morrison holding the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck after his beach trip

‘Whilst #ScottFromMarketing was on holidays again. Can see who are the heavy lifts in this country and the ones that really care about the people.’  

The NSW Rural Fire Service took to Facebook on Friday to thank firefighters who gave up time with their families to save homes and contain deadly fires. 

A video posted to the RFS page on Friday showed crews preparing a containment line in remote bush land near Colo heights, north west of Sydney. 

The volunteers can be seen clad in long-sleeved uniforms and protective gear working in sweltering heat.

‘A massive shout out to 100s and 100s of volunteers that gave up their Christmas and Boxing Day to cut lines, backburn, mop up and black out,’ the RFS wrote. 

The NSW Rural Fire Service took to Facebook on Friday to thank firefighters who gave up time with their families to save homes and contain deadly fires (crews preparing containment lines north west of Sydney pictured)

The NSW Rural Fire Service took to Facebook on Friday to thank firefighters who gave up time with their families to save homes and contain deadly fires (crews preparing containment lines north west of Sydney pictured)

‘This is extremely important work to try and contain fires ahead of deteriorating weather early next week. 

‘Thank you.’ 

A NSW Rural Fire Service spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia there were 1500 firefighters working across the state on both days. 

A further 500 to 800 personnel from emergency agencies also gave up their time to assist with the ongoing bushfire crisis, he said. 

Scott Morrison spent boxing Day at Bronte beach with his mother and daughters as 1500 firefighters battled blazes across NSW

Scott Morrison spent boxing Day at Bronte beach with his mother and daughters as 1500 firefighters battled blazes across NSW

The family day-out follows weeks of criticism over the Prime Minister's holiday to Hawaii as the country swelters through one of its worst bushfire seasons on record

The family day-out follows weeks of criticism over the Prime Minister’s holiday to Hawaii as the country swelters through one of its worst bushfire seasons on record

The prime minister spent this week in damage control, apologising for ‘any offence’ caused by his family holiday to Hawaii.  

Following public pressure for volunteers to receive benefits, he announced on Christmas Eve that those who work as Commonwealth public servants will be entitled to an extra four weeks of annual leave a year. 

The initiative would apply to more than 147,000 federal public servant but excludes those working in non-government roles. 

Last month an online petition calling on the Governor General to remove him as Prime Minister was erected and has since collected 132,577 signatures.  

The Change.org petition claims that recent bushfires across NSW, Queensland and Victoria could have been prevented with better governance.

Mr Morrison (pictured with his two daughters and mother) embraced Sydney's clear weather on Thursday for a trip to the beach

Mr Morrison (pictured with his two daughters and mother) embraced Sydney’s clear weather on Thursday for a trip to the beach

Critics lashed out at the government's response to the bushfire crisis gripping the nation

Critics lashed out at the government’s response to the bushfire crisis gripping the nation

Some added that they felt the Prime Minister's recent visits to meet firefighters were insincere

Some added that they felt the Prime Minister’s recent visits to meet firefighters were insincere

A NSW Rural Fire Service said that the mood among volunteers on Christmas and Boxing day was ‘really positive’.

‘They know that their work is important and it’s just an ongoing battle to protect homes,’ he said.

 ‘A lot of volunteers gave up their days to others that had been working [before the holidays] so they could spend the day with their families.’ 

At least 873 homes have been destroyed in NSW in the bushfire season to date, as well as almost 100 in South Australia and more than a dozen in Queensland. 

Artist Scott Marsh painted a mural of Scott Morrison in Hawaiian garb with flames rising all around him, in Sydney, on Christmas eve shortly after his return home

Artist Scott Marsh painted a mural of Scott Morrison in Hawaiian garb with flames rising all around him, in Sydney, on Christmas eve shortly after his return home

Two volunteer firefighters were killed earlier this month when their truck rolled off the road after hitting a fallen tree at Buxton, south of Sydney. 

Almost 1300 firefighters were working on Friday as over 70 bush and grass fires, including 33 still uncontained, burn through out NSW.   

The Prime Minister’s Office decline to comment on the latest criticism of Mr Morrison. 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons for comment.

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk