A group of climate campaigners "sick of waiting for a response from Scott Morrison" on climate change have adopted a new tactic - talking to his mum.
A change.org petition and accompanying video feature an "open letter" to Mr Morrison's mother, Marion Morrison, pleading that she "ask the PM to take real action for the climate".
"Scott listens to you. So we wanted to ask a favour. We've been trying to talk to him, but can't seem to get through. We were hoping you'd have more luck," the video says.
"Australia is burning ... And it's only going to get worse, unless we act now. Marion, can you talk to Scott for us? Tell him it's not too late. Tell him he can still take real action for the climate."
The anonymous creators' decision to target the prime minister's mother is a controversial tactic.
During the election campaign, a Daily Telegraph story about then Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's late mother was slammed as a "new low".
Mr Shorten had spoken about his mother as his inspiration on Q&A in May, describing how she had wanted to study law but was unable to because of her family commitments.
The newspaper criticised Mr Shorten for failing to mention that she had studied law later in life, prompting Mr Shorten to explain how she had graduated with first-class honours only to face discrimination in the industry for being an older graduate.
"In a new low, The Daily Telegraph has decided to use my mum's life as a political attack on me, and on her memory," Mr Shorten said.
At the time, Mr Morrison said Mr Shorten's reaction was understandable, saying "this election is not about our families".
Morrison 'deeply regrets' holiday
The prime minister on Friday announced he has cutting short his holiday in Hawaii with his family after bushfires claimed the lives of two volunteer firefighters.
The decision came after days of criticism about the timing of the holiday which Mr Morrison said had been brought forward due to official visits to India and Japan in January.
"I deeply regret any offence caused to any of the many Australians affected by the terrible bushfires by my taking leave with family at this time," he said in a statement on Friday.
In a statement to SBS News, the anonymous creators of the letter to the prime minister's mother said they hope "continued vocalised pressure from the Australian people will go some way to ending the silence and inaction on the climate crisis from the government".
"But if Marion does see it, maybe she'll make her son think about how his inaction is affecting other people and their children."
The message comes during a week of extreme weather conditions around Australia.
The country sweltered through its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with the average national temperature climbed to 41.9C.
In NSW, Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared a week-long state of emergency on Thursday, as a horror bushfire season continues in the state.
Smoke blankets Sydney this week. Source: AAP
As the heat continued, protesters, including students representing the School Strike 4 Climate movement, set up tents on the road outside Mr Morrison's official residence on Thursday, calling it the "Kirribilli camp-out".
The Coalition government has said it is on track to reduce carbon emissions by at least 26 per cent by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement commitments.
With additional reporting from AAP
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