'Miserable pricks': Sam Newman's bizarre attack on bushfire victims

Former AFL footballer Sam Newman has labelled bushfire victims who refused to shake the prime minister’s hand ‘miserable pricks’.

Taking to Twitter as Australia’s bushfire disaster continued over the weekend, Newman took aim at victims of the deadly blazes who had lost their homes, after Scott Morrison was heckled by locals in the township of Cobargo, which was ravaged by fire last week.

The prime minister faced several awkward moments during his visit to the area, memorably with resident Zoey Salucci-McDermott, who refused to shake Morrison’s hand unless he committed to further funding for the RFS.

Morrison was also snubbed by a volunteer firefighter in the Bega Valley, and was later informed the firefighter had lost his home in the New Year’s Eve fires.

In his post, Newman lashed out at those who had ignored the PM.

“What about the miserable pricks who won’t shake Scott Morrison’s hand, or acknowledge him because they think he’s responsible for Australia being on fire. Research the REAL reason,” he wrote.

The former Footy Show host’s tweet received a mixed response from others on social media.

Nathan Buckley, Patrick Dangerfield speak up over fires

Collingwood Magpies coach Nathan Buckley has taken a veiled swipe at the PM on Twitter, while Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield took to the platform to slam Scott Morrison’s video about the deployment of army reservists.

Without mentioning the prime minister or the fires, Buckley tweeted a message about leadership that resonated with many fans on social media.

“Leadership is hard. Put your hand up and accept what could have been done better, by you and by others,” Buckley wrote.

“Then accept the vitriol, the hurt and the pain.

“Listen, understand and empathise. Then take action.

“First for today, then for tomorrow.”

Many interpreted Buckley’s tweet as a veiled criticism of the government’s response to the unprecedented bushfire disaster.

Meanwhile, Dangerfield labelled Morrison’s posting of an ad, detailing the deployment of additional firefighting resources, as ‘staggering’.