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'Tired of the lies': Little girl in viral police video hits out at Scott Morrison

The young Aussie girl at the centre of a viral video fighting back tears while being issued a move-on order by police during a protest against Scott Morrison’s climate change inaction this week has delivered the prime minister some scathing criticism on his return from his overseas holiday.

Izzy Raj-Seppings, 13, and her dad were filmed on Thursday during a protest with a crowd of others outside Kirribilli House in Sydney to demand climate action from Mr Morrison.

But their plan was derailed when riot police approached and threatened to arrest them if they didn’t comply with their move-on order.

Video of the tense confrontation was shared to social media by an onlooker and soon went viral.

13-year-old Izzy Raj-Seppings sobs as police issue move-on notice at climate change protest in Sydney.
Izzy Raj-Seppings fought back tears while an officer issued her and her dad a move-on notice ono Thursday. Source: Twitter/RivOMac

The teenager on Saturday hit out at the prime minister in an article for The Guardian, explaining why she felt compelled to stand up to Australia’s leader and his stance on “the most important issue of our time”.

She explained it was “politicians’ denial and the inaction of our government and our prime minister” that motivated her to “drag my dad on a one-hour bus trip to Kirribilli House on one of the hottest days of summer”.

“Their denial has gone on for far too long. I’m tired, tired of the lies and misdirection. I’m tired of watching my future, my friends’ and family’s futures, all of our futures, burn before our very eyes,” she said.

“How dare Scott Morrison race off to Hawaii during Australia’s time of crisis? What we need is a prime minister who acknowledges that this isn’t another normal fire season, that the cause of this is climate change. Lives and homes have been taken while Morrison lies on a tropical beach with his head in the sand.”

Mr Morrison had a lot to answer for when he returned from his holiday in Hawaii Saturday night, addressing media at the RFS headquarters in Sydney on Sunday morning.

He acknowledged that “lessons have been learned” by his office, which sought to conceal the absence from the public and vowed that in future, different decisions would be made.

Scott Morrison in Sydney to answer questions about absence from bushfire crisis while holidaying in Hawaii.
Mr Morrison arrived back in Sydney from his family holiday in Hawaii on Saturday. Source: AAP

The prime minister also sought to assure the public that his government, despite its very checkered and much criticised history on the issue, had always taken the threat of climate change seriously.

“It is also been the case - our Government has always, and I have always, acknowledged the connection between these weather events and these broader fire events and the impacts globally of climate change.

“We must take action on climate change,” he said.

Despite this claim, it appears there will be no change to the Government’s position on addressing climate change.

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