Updated
Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly has defended his
Government's handling of the bushfire crisis, during a combative UK
television interview in which he argued the fires were caused by high
fuel loads and not climate change.
Appearing on ITV's Good
Morning Britain, Mr Kelly was grilled by outspoken British host Piers
Morgan, who introduced him as a "climate change sceptic".Mr Kelly nodded along during the introduction.
"You believe this has nothing to do with climate change, explain that," Piers Morgan began.
Mr Kelly replied: "Well Piers you have to look at science and what our scientists are telling us.
"What causes the fires is the build-up of fuel load and the drought."
As fires burn across the country, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been under pressure to develop a stronger climate change policy.
The Australian leader has also made global headlines for his handling of the bushfire crisis, with international media outlets watching the fires closely.
His confrontational meeting with angry residents — who heckled the Prime Minister and refused to shake his hand during the brief visit — in the bushfire-ravaged New South Wales town of Cobargo was streamed across the world.
The criticism has left Mr Morrison repeatedly seeking to reassure the public — both domestically and abroad — his Government accepts the link between climate change and natural disasters.
"I should stress that there is no dispute in this country about the issue of climate change globally, and its effect on global weather patterns, and that includes how that impacts in Australia," he said on Sunday.
And when asked later in the day what he would say to those around the world who were watching, he simply said: "Thank you very much for your support. Thank you."
Stay across our bushfire coverage:
- Kangaroo Island bushfires may hasten threatened species' rush towards extinction
- Rain isn't always helpful fighting bushfires, so what will it take to put them out?
- Bushfire recovery bill starts at $2 billion but is set to grow
- Analysis: These fires are disastrous, but we haven't even hit peak heatwave season yet
- 'We're a lunar landscape here': Fears for milk supplies as animals perish in bushfires
- Opinion: The bushfire crisis has given the Government a political 'out' to its climate change problem
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