Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I'm sure the House won't be surprised that I don't accept the Leader of the Opposition's characterisation of these issues. What I can tell the House is that the government's response to the national bushfire emergency over this 'black summer' has been unprecedented with the compulsory call-out of the Defence Force reserves, which is the first time that that has occurred in response to a national disaster of this kind. In addition to that, we moved quickly to establish the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and to appoint Andrew Colvin, the former head of the Australian Federal Police. I thought those opposite supported these measures, but they come in here and, with the first question of the day, seek to politicise the bushfire response. I find that very disappointing, but I'm happy to inform the member that we not only provided additional support for aerial firefighting assets—that is, the water bombers—but also a further $20 million—

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