A former Wagga woman who lost her home to a bushfire last week has condemned incendiary comments made by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.
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Angela Earth's home in Wytaliba, about 50km east of Glen Innes in northern NSW, was destroyed by a devastating blaze on Friday.
As she counted the cost of losing the home she had owned for 30 years - along with the memories and keepsakes that it housed - Ms Earth was left heartbroken when she heard comments by Mr McCormack in which he criticised the climate change concerns of "raving inner-city lunatics".
In an ABC interview, Mr McCormack said: "We've had fires in Australia since time began, and what people need now is a little bit of sympathy, understanding and real assistance - they need help, they need shelter.
"They don't need the ravings of some pure, enlightened and woke capital-city greenies."
Ms Earth, whose father Gordon Ball farmed at Ladysmith and Borambola, even penned a letter to The Daily Advertiser to voice her concerns.
"I remember Dad reading The Land and listening to The Farm Report on the radio. He was very keenly into weather. He certainly knew what season to expect what and managed it well," she said.
"This is a whole new world. The drought - especially up in this New England, Armidale area - has now gone on for two years without decent rain.
"It's really gruelling, really hard. Just that comment about 'greenies from the city who are complaining' - I just felt like 'my house has burned down and I can't talk about this? When is the time to talk about this?'
"Where is the place to talk about climate change?
"There has been a lot of science about this. I feel like there were actions taken by past governments that were leading us in a good direction and they've been undone."
Ms Earth said the fire that swept her community had been "really apocalyptic" and "your worst nightmare".
"On that particular night, fires that had been burning in forests a fair distance from the community area - so there was no warning," she said.
"People realised they only had time to run: not even time to grab a passport or a wallet or anything. It really was just to flee.
When she spoke to The Daily Advertiser, Ms Earth and her partner James Vickers had not yet been allowed to return to Wytaliba to see what remained of their home.
Despite the fire, Ms Earth was counting herself lucky as she also has a home at Armidale, where she had clothes and other possessions.
Her daughter's home escape the blaze in tact.
Mr McCormack has expressed his sympathy to Ms Earth, but said he stood by remarks directed towards a Greens politician.
"I am very sorry to hear Ms Earth has lost her home in the terrible fire which has devastated the Wytaliba community," he said.
"There is no doubt the prolonged drought has had a significant impact on the fires burning across NSW and Queensland.
"There is a high-level of fuel build up over a long period with very dry grounds.
"There will be time to have climate discussions, but it is not the appropriate time during this current emergency. This is not because this issue is not important, but because our focus right now is on those men and women who have been going for days without a break and the people who have lost homes and loved ones.
"I stand by my comments made in response to Adam Bandt, who suggested the federal government was somewhat responsible for those who have died in the bushfires. His comments on Monday were reprehensible.
"Firefighters in both states have been battling over the past week in some of the toughest conditions imaginable.
"These communities need our support right now as they move forward and rebuild.
"In the most trying conditions, we have seen the best of humanity - volunteers walking towards situations others would rightly run from.
"These men and women are putting their lives and in some cases their own properties on the line to protect others.
"There are a range of support services available to those in need, including immediate financial support for those worst hit by the bushfires.
"A disaster recovery payment will provide $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children.
"Also, the federal government will provide those eligible up to 13 weeks of income support via the disaster recovery allowance for those who have lost their income.
"I urge those affected to see if they are eligible by calling 1802266 or visiting www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster."