Morrison offers medal to firefighters as Albanese warns against 'business as usual' after fires

Australia Day overshadowed by bushfire crisis as leaders express gratitude to emergency services personnel

Anthony Albanese has warned Australia cannot treat unprecedented bushfires as “business as usual” and Scott Morrison extended eligibility for the national emergency medal as the bushfire crisis coloured national celebrations on Sunday.

Australia Day – a source of political contest due to growing calls to move the date from 26 January, which marks the start of European colonisation – instead united the two leaders in expressing gratitude to emergency services workers and firefighting volunteers, who have been battling blazes since September.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Gpa0OU
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