In the midst of the terrible bushfires that are ravaging NSW, Greens Deputy leader Adam Bandt has stooped low to extract political capital out of the devastation, by taking an opportunist tweet at Abbott.

Bandt has has to defend himself against a torrent of criticism for his opportunism and political point scoring, choosing not to retract or apologise. Greens leader Christine Milne has supported Bandt. Here is the story and video,

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-18/adam-bandt-defends-bushfire-attack-on-abbott/5030368

It is a reminder of the previous Greens leader Bob Brown, who blamed mining for the catastrophic floods that ravaged Qld, resulting in deaths and huge loss of assets, with many people still without the money to rebuild or move elsewhere. The Courier Mail has run stories on people who are still sleeping on friends' couches.

Should Bandt and Milne apologise, especially to the people of NSW?

otb,

Why is it political opportunism for Bandt to bring up devastating firestorms in mid October.....warm, warm, warm, dry, dry, dry, low soil moisture, etc

....and yet when Mr Abbott sucks political mileage out of photo ops sitting in the driver's seat of a fire truck - he's a jolly good fellow?

Hypocrisy writ large.

Poirot,

Good point, Tony Abbott is a volunteer rural fire fighter I believe and could be out there now helping. But in that case you would be insisting that he drive himself to the fire, park and have his pay docked for the privilege, of course. Maybe a black mark on his personnel history file as well?

I should add that I might be a little swayed by the actions of my previous employers who always strived to be exemplary corporate citizens and released me on full pay to travel and compete in lifesaving carnivals, and attend as necessary with the VMR and SES. Come to think of it, even the small employers of my early work experience applauded voluntary service with the University Regiment.

So, what do you say then? What proof are you seeking from your trusted source, Adam Bandt, that Abbott started those fires? Or you worry, that he might be out there now fighting a blaze and getting paid?

Then again, Adam Bandt has a public exasperated with him and the Greens -for continually grandstanding on calamity - who are intent on setting his pants on fire. He might be wishing for a voluntary firefighter to attend very soon. Would that be hypocrisy writ large?

Adam Brandt is merely following in the footsteps of other Greens; who could forget Bob Brown's famous blaming of the coal miners for the devastating floods in Queensland or the other Greens who call for more gun control of law abiding citizens after a shooting before the grieving families have had even a few hours to come to terms with their sadness?

Brandt is merely following form, crass and insensitive and certainly no gentleman.

He is now in back-peddling mode.

otb,

"So, what do you say then? What proof are you seeking from your trusted source, Adam Bandt, that Abbott started those fires?"

Are you all right up top?

Twisting and distorting anything from anyone...very cheaty.

"....Tony Abbott is a volunteer rural fire fighter..."

Tony Abbott is a volunteer self-promoter who dabbles a bit in rural firefighting.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BAIMnhBCQAAGem8.jpg:large

(That one's worth a copy and paste...firetruck, Tones and a bevy of photographers :)

".... and could be out there now helping.."

Well "jolly big guffaw" to that one. The photographers are somewhat preoccupied with the firestorm to spare time to assist with Tony's self-enhancement program.

I place no value on the rantings of greens.
However NSW is in a strange weather situation.
Past few years see first a dumping of great deal of rain in one sharp and short month or two.
Then we bake and yes the fires begin.
I do think climate change is real, and that man plays a role.
And as a 30 plus year veteran of fighting them, WARN, some are started by glory hunting fire fighters, let no honest fire fighter say that is not truth.
Records exist that show as the greens made every effort to stop winter burns,that action has produced wild fires instead of the way the bush was handled for century,s cold burning.
Those records, for the part of the state I live in and 38 years of personal observation, show rains are changing over the year patterns.
Yanderra was one of my child hood homes, it had bad fires but never this bad.
My memory's are of a small hamlet today its residents number in the hundreds if not thousands.
Climate change desperately needs our attention, not politicians squabbling for a win.
I want it noted ham radio operators join and assist these crews even building radio repeaters for them.
My service was with many brigades, not one of them did not include a fire bug.
My service ended one hot summer day when a senior officer told me he was bored and intended to start a fire.
NEVER however forget the brave folk out there right now would never think of other than stopping them.