Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated he is likely to cancel his upcoming visit to India in the wake of devastating conditions caused by bushfires across Australia.
“The National Security Committee is going to hook up actually in the morning on this,” he told reporters on Friday noon.
“I'm inclined not to proceed with that visit. There are some issues that I need to resolve formally, through what you’d expect when you make a decision of that nature. To work through those issues with the other Ministers. But that is my inclination at this point, I’ll make a further announcement on that and we’ll make the arrangements accordingly,” he said.
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This came just hours after speaking to Melbourne radio 3AW on Friday morning where he said the plan was still on.
Mr Morrison said his visit to India was an ‘important meeting’ but indicated there might be a change in plans.
“We're reviewing that at the moment. It is a very important meeting, that meeting in India. But we will be considering that over the next few days. But at the moment, that plan is still in place. But, you know, when you're dealing with these issues, then you need to consider, you know, the relative merits of the choices,” Mr Morrison said.
The trip comes at a time when Prime Minister Morrison has been heavily criticised for taking a family vacation to Hawaii before Christmas and later for his visit to areas affected by bushfires where he was heckled by the local people.
More than 130 fires continue to burn across NSW and 30 bushfire warnings remain in place in Victoria. More than 3.6 million hectares - three times the size of Sydney's metro area - have so far been burnt during this year's fire season.
Prime Minister’s India trip scheduled from January 13-16
Mr Morrison is due to travel to India on January 13 where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and deliver the inaugural Raisina Dialogue address which aims to address the most challenging issues facing the global community.
If the visit goes ahead as planned, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by a business delegation on this four-day visit which will be mainly focused on bilateral trade.
India plans to release its response to Australia’s India Economic Strategy 2035 during PM Morrison’s visit.
India is Australia's fifth-largest trading partner, with annual bilateral trade exceeding $22 billion in 2018.
This will be Mr Morrison’s first visit to India after becoming the Prime Minister.
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