Tony Abbott has arrived at the Rural Fire Service in south coast of New South Wales, as he prepares for another day of battling blazes.
The former prime minister was seen dressed in a yellow RFS jumpsuit as he made his way into the staging centre in Nowra, early Tuesday morning.
Mr Abbott, who has been a volunteer firefighter for 20 years, has been praised for his firefighting efforts in the media in recent weeks, as Australia battles its worst bushfire season in years.
But the modest politician appeared to shrug off the attention when approached by reporters.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott was seen dressed in a yellow RFS jumpsuit as he made his way into the staging centre in Nowra, early Tuesday morning
He was seen greeting army reserve members troops who have been deployed to the worst fire-stricken areas in the country
When asked if he was there to lend a helping hand, he replied: ‘Nah, nah, just along with 70,000 volunteers that’s all.’
Cameras followed Mr Abbott as he entered the RFS centre, where thousands of other volunteers have convened to help battle bushfires.
He was seen greeting army reserve members troops who have been deployed to the worst fire-stricken areas in the country.
‘So ScoMo’s troops have arrived, well done! Good on you fellas,’ Mr Abbott said, referring to the prime minister’s decision to deploy 3,000 members ADF soldiers to fire grounds over the weekend.
Despite losing his seat in the 2019 Federal Election, Australians have heaped praised on Mr Abbott for his efforts to fight fires, while Scott Morrison has been heavily criticised for his handling of the crisis.
Mr Morrison said at the height of the crisis that he didn’t ‘hold the hose’ after he came under fire for his apparent inaction over the fires.
Newly-returned Today show host Karl Stefanovic commended the Mr Abbott, saying his work exemplifies how the country has come together during a time of tragedy and crisis.
‘He truly loves it, he loves being part of a team. He’s one of just a team out there and he loves fighting fires,’ he said on Tuesday.
Mr Abbott was PM when the so-called carbon tax aimed at tackling Australia’s greenhouse emissions was scrapped and he has long been cast as a climate change sceptic.
Newly-returned Today show host Karl Stefanovic commended the former PM saying his work exemplifies how the country has come together during a time of tragedy and crisis
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (second from right) outraged Australians in late December when he secretly jetted off to Hawaii for a family holiday at the height of the national disaster
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen, for a long, long time, the country come together and certain people have lifted and led, without really wanting acknowledgement for it.’
In late December, Mr Abbott was pictured at the Bargo BP service station wearing the yellow uniform of his Davidson squadron before battling the Green Wattle Creek fire.
He took a few snaps with fans and the photos quickly went viral on social media.
The next day he helped put out a spot fire and then volunteered for a last-minute emergency relief crew.
Mr Abbott also completed three five-day deployments in northern NSW between September and November, along with others all over the state.
Tony Abbott (right) donned a breathing apparatus and oxygen tank in 45C heat on Monday
Mr Abbott also completed three five-day deployments in northern NSW between September and November, along with others all over the state. Pictured: fighting fires in Balmoral in December
As other blazes flared up around Sydney last month, Mr Abbott spent up to 10 days on the front line.
On Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged to spend whatever amount necessary to get Australians ‘back on their feet’ after announcing a $2 billion relief package on Monday.
There have been 24 deaths this bushfire season and more than 1,600 homes have been lost, with almost six million hectares across Australia having been burnt, which is about the size of the Republic of Ireland.
Two people remain unaccounted for in NSW where there has already been 19 fatalities, and Victoria and South Australia have reported two and three deaths respectively.
There are still 15 ‘Watch and act’ warnings’ in Victoria and emergency supplies are being flown into the state’s 18 cut-off communities.
As a fire front approached the town of Batlow (pictured) on Saturday, the sky was filled with orange flames and thick, grey plumes of smoke