Angry Cobargo residents have unleashed at the Prime Minister as he visited the bushfire affected region. 

Former AFL star Sam Newman has taken a swipe at “miserable pr***s” refusing to shake Scott Morrison’s hand as the Prime Minister fends off criticism over his handling of Australia’s bushfire crisis. 

The PM has endured some awkward moments as he visited areas affected by the fires, turning away from a pregnant woman in Cobargo in the south-east of NSW and also being snubbed by a firefighter in the same town. 

Footage of Mr Morrison reaching down to grab Zoey Salucci-McDermott’s hand, before leaving her when she started questioning him, went viral during the week. 

So too did vision of a heroic firefighter refusing to accept the PM’s offer of a handshake in the tiny village in the Bega Valley that was decimated by the deadly New Year’s Eve fires, which killed local father and son Robert and Patrick Salway. 

“I don’t really want to shake your hand,” the firefighter said. 

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PM's awkward handshake snub from firefighter A furious firefighter has refused to shake Prime Minister Scott Morrison's hand in Cobargo after he was earlier abused by devastated locals. 

Former AFL Footy Show panellist Newman took aim at people who have ignored Mr Morrison’s handshakes, and said they should research the “real” reason Australia is on fire. 

“What about the miserable pr**ks 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,” Newman said on Twitter. 

When approached by the Prime Minister, Ms Salucci-McDermott said: “I’m only shaking your hand if you give more funding to our RFS (Rural Fire Service). 

“So many people here have lost their homes.  We need more help.” 

Ms Salucci-McDermott later wrote on Facebook he “turned his back on me”. 

Speaking to 10 News, she added: “I would have happily sat down and had a cup of tea with him if he had asked am I OK?  What can we do to fix this situation? 

“He walked away as I asked for help … we’re desperate, and the people we look to when we are desperate are our leaders. 

“He wasn’t here to help us was he.” 

Yesterday a firefighter from Nelligen driving a truck made the news for his choice words to Mr Morrison, stopping briefly to issue a colourful message when he noticed a camera on the side of the road. 

“Are you from the media?”  he asked a Channel 7 reporter. “ Tell the Prime Minster to go and get f*****, from Nelligen. 

“We really enjoy doing this s***,” he added sarcastically. 

Another firefighter also had a message for Mr Morrison. “ Stand down now.  You don’t deserve to govern,” she said. 

“You knew this was coming — it’s been coming for a few years. 

“You’ve been totally ignorant of it and now we’re wearing your problems.” 

READ: AFL coach’s blunt message for ScoMo

Mr Morrison has come under fire for previously saying firefighters “want to be there” in reference to areas under threat from fires, and has also been accused of ignoring warnings from experts about just how bad the fires would be this summer. 

Newman may not be blaming Mr Morrison but not everyone in the AFL world is happy with how he’s handling things.  Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield tweeted his dismay after the government released a video spruiking its latest steps to help, which was widely slammed. 

“Staggering,” Dangerfield wrote in response to the clip. 

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley also tweeted some advice recently on what it means to be a leader. 

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

“Then accept the vitriol, the hurt and the pain.  Listen, understand and empathise.  Then take action.  Firstly for today and then for tomorrow.”