Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison has apologised for holidaying in Hawaii during the nation’s deadly bushfire  crisis but insisted his government would not be panicked into changing its climate policy. 

“I get it that people would have been upset to know that I was holidaying with my family while their families were under great stress,” said Mr Morrison on a visit to the rural fire service headquarters in Sydney on Sunday. “I apologise for that.” 

Mr Morrison returned to Australia on Saturday night following an unannounced holiday that sparked fierce criticism and street protests. The vacation coincided with one of the worst weeks in a month-long bushfire crisis that has claimed at least eight lives and blanketed the nation’s largest cities in toxic smoke.