As the leader of a country currently ravaged by deadly bushfires, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured above) has been panned for releasing a campaign.
We’re putting more Defence Force boots on the ground, more planes in the sky, more ships to sea, and more trucks to roll in to support the bushfire fighting effort and recovery as part of our co-ordinated response to these terrible #bushfires pic.twitter.com/UiOeYB2jnv
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 4, 2020
The video – released on the PM’s official social media channel – was released on Saturday and outlines the many ways the government has aided in the fires. But given that the situation in Australia is worsening, critics are slamming the ad as insensitive, tone-deaf, and "exploiting taxpayer dollars".
In a media conference in Canberra, Morrison said: "To infer from that there was some other purpose in these communications – I reject absolutely and the commentary on that along those lines, I think, is false.
"It’s on Facebook. It’s put together by my own office. There are no real, honest expenses of any significance that are attached to making a Facebook post."
Katherine Murphy, political editor at The Guardian Australia said in a commentary piece that the campaign was a "bizarre act of self-love as firefighters battle to save Australia". Murphy writes: "You show leadership by actually leading. Not by telling people you are leading. Otherwise you are not a leader. You are an internet meme."
Todd Sampson, co-host of Gruen, the popular Australian TV show an advertising, tweeted that the video felt like "being sold to at a funeral".
Advertising! There is something not right about running political advertising during a devastating National Crisis. It’s like being ‘sold to’ at a funeral. PR Crisis 101: say less and do more.(Btw, the bouncy elevator music is too juxtaposing and really annoying.) #bushfires https://t.co/lv9JEVl8bY
— todd sampson (@toddsampsonOz) January 4, 2020
Even Piers Morgan, who is himself known for causing controversy, had a few words for Morrison.
Wow. A self-promotional commercial with cheesy elevator music? This is one of the most tone-deaf things I’ve ever seen a country’s leader put out during a crisis. Shameless & shameful. https://t.co/ISgYEtlsb7
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 4, 2020
Incidentally, Morrison previously served as managing director of Tourism Australia from 2004 to 2006. Prompted by the fires, the tourism board pulled digital versions of a recent campaign video featuring a chirpy Kylie Minogue singing to UK audiences about the sunny qualities of Australia.
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