Scott Morrison has responded to the anger of bushfire victims, but says he isn't taking their criticism personally.
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The Prime Minister was heckled while visiting Cobargo on Thursday, when he tried to shake the hand of a bushfire survivor who refused the gesture and said more funding was needed for the Rural Fire Service.
Another resident told Mr Morrison he was unwelcome and wouldn't get any votes from the area devastated by bushfire.
The Prime Minister told reporters in Bairnsdale, Victoria on Friday that people were raw and frustrated and how they responded to him was up to them.
"I don't take it personally. I just see it as a sense of frustration and hurt and loss and anger that is out there about what is the ferocity of these natural disasters," he said.
"And I understand that, and we will seek to provide that comfort and support in whatever way we can."
On the particular incident with the young woman in Cobargo, Mr Morrison said he had spoken with her about greater support for the firefighting effort in NSW.
The criticisms wouldn't distract him, the Prime Minister said.
"My job is to stay focused on ensuring that we have the maximum coordination of effort across many states."
After a frosty reception in the south of NSW, Mr Morrison received a better response in far-east Gippsland, where almost 1000 people are expected to be evacuated out of Mallacoota by navy vessels ahead of Saturday's fire threat.
Mr Morrison also responded to criticism from Bega state MP Andrew Constance who said he hadn't heard from the Prime Minister.
"I've known Andrew for a long time, and I've reached out to him today. Andrew, like so many in that part of New South Wales - his neighbour lost his own property there, and he's been defending his own property there. He's deeply part of that community.
"So I can understand how Andrew would be feeling at the moment. So I've reached out to him today, and offered that apology to him. I was under the understanding that we had made contact with him. That wasn't the case. And that's regretted. But I assumed that he was otherwise occupied on that day, which would be completely understandable.
"But Andrew's been through a terrible, terrible experience and ordeal, and so I totally understand how he'd be feeling."
Earlier on Friday the locals were backed up by their Mr Constance, who is also Minister for Transport and Roads in the NSW Liberal government.
"I haven't had a call from him so to be honest with you the locals probably gave him the welcome he deserved," Mr Constance told Seven News.
"I'd say this to the Prime Minister today: the nation wants you to open up the cheque books.
"I know this is tough and I know I'm on his side of politics. But the only two people who are providing leadership at this stage are (NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner) Shane Fitzsimmons and (NSW premier) Gladys Berejiklian."
Ms Berejiklian backed her minister over the Prime Minister on Friday, saying he and others were justified in being angry.
"I know Andrew has raw emotion as do many members of his community and I don't blame people for feeling angry. The Prime Minister and myself and other leaders, we don't take it personally," Ms Berejiklian told radio station 2GB.
"There's no doubt people are justified in feeling angry, people are justified in feeling scared. A lot of people are feeling anxious, that's normal and we have to accept these emotions."
Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese backed away from criticising the Prime Minister.
"That's for other people to judge. I don't think this is a time for pointing fingers," he said on the ABC.
He did, however, call for a national response.
"The government does need to do whatever is necessary across all levels of government," Mr Albanese said.
"I believe that there needs to be a national approach because this is a national crisis."