Scott Morrison has been forced to explain himself after his office banned media filming him visiting damaged homes in flood-affected areas of northern New South Wales.
The prime minister toured the region, including the devastated town of Lismore, on Wednesday when he announced his intention to declare a national emergency amid the clean-up.
When later asked why a media ban was put in place, Mr Morrison said it was due to “respect for the privacy of those I came to speak to”.
“In these disasters, not everybody wants a camera shoved in the face while they’re trying to share their heart with you,” he said.
“I came down to listen to them and what they are going through and understand what was needed for their primary production business, paint business, all those householders themselves, what was needed to make sure we can get this town back on its feet, and that is assisting me with other matters.
“The primary purpose is to make sure I understand fully what we need to do, and the alignment of what our plans are and our announcements are with the needs here in the community.”
“Scott Morrison has visited a farm near Lismore and an SES operations base this morning and will soon visit houses affected by floods. Media have not been allowed to film the visits,” he tweeted.
“Scott Morrison has visited a farm near Lismore and an SES operations base this morning and will soon visit houses affected by floods. Media have not been allowed to film the visits,” he tweeted.
Mr Morrison underwent a public relations nightmare when he was snubbed and heckled by victims of the Black Summer bushfire disaster in 2020.
It was expected a similar situation could occur in northern NSW as many frustrated locals focused their anger towards the prime minister and Premier Dominic Perrottet during the current disaster, blaming the leaders for delays in providing support on the ground.
Protesters gathered in Lismore on Wednesday afternoon, calling for Mr Morrison to declare a climate emergency and to do more on climate action.
Many have held signs calling for climate action, with one poster reading, “It’s raining. It’s pouring. The PM is snoring”.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce earlier warned that Mr Morrison would not receive a warm welcome from locals during his visit.
“People are incredibly vulnerable, and it’s understandable that they want to express that and the pain that they’re going through,” Mr Joyce told Sky News.
“I would be incredibly surprised if people got a happy reception, because they’re not in a happy place, and they want to be heard.”