Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

The short answer to the initial question is: no, I don't think these were appropriate comments in the circumstances. That is because I believe, and we believe, that it is not an appropriate time to bring politics into this debate, when people have lost their lives and while these same fires continue to burn. Equally, the time to have policy discussions is not in the middle of an operational response. It is not in the middle of people literally fighting for their homes and fighting for their survival.

As the Prime Minister has stated, all of our attention as a government remains focused on supporting our firefighters and volunteers and on ensuring that people in fire affected communities are kept safe and continue to receive the support they need.