Scott Morrison says Hawaii holiday was like taking 'that extra plumbing contract' on a Friday afternoon

PM says 'we can all make better decisions on occasions' as he again defends government position on climate change amid catastrophic bushfires

" NSW and SA count cost of bushfires after Balmoral and Cudlee Creek devastation - latest

Scott Morrison has claimed climate change is "as important now" amid an extended bushfire crisis and a record-breaking heatwave as it was at the election and denied that the government is split over whether to improve Australia's policy response.

In a series of interviews on Monday Morrison cited family commitments as the reason for his decision to holiday in Hawaii during the crisis, comparing himself to a plumber forced to choose between a Friday afternoon job or seeing his family.