Firefighter Who Told Scott Morrison To 'Get F***ed' Says He's Been Sacked

A firefighter who slagged off the Prime Minister and went viral around Australia says he's been sacked from the Rural Fire Service.

Paul Parker, from Nelligen on the New South Wales south coast, was driving a fire truck earlier this year when he noticed a news crew. He immediately stopped the vehicle and yelled: "You from the media?"

Mr Parker then told the 7News crew: "Tell the Prime Minister to go and get f***ed from Nelligen. We really enjoy doing this s***."

He instantly became an iconic symbol of the latest bushfire season and summed up a lot of anger being directed at Scott Morrison for his involvement during the crisis.

But Mr Parker claims that he's since been fired from the New South Wales RFS.

Channel 10

Speaking on The Project, he explained that he's not a political person, but took issue with Mr Morrison's claim that volunteers enjoy fighting fires.

"The message I got was about time you brought the truck back because we were about to send the police to go look for you. And then there were further comments with gestures and arm movements saying that I'm finished. It's all over," he told the Channel 10 programme.

"Another captain from another brigade within Batemans Bay came out and I asked him the question, I said: 'What's going on?' He said: 'You're finished because of your allegations and foul language against the PM of the country while representing the RFS'.

Channel 7

"Didn't know you could get sacked from a volunteer organisation but apparently you can."

Mr Parker said his disdain for the government during the bushfire crisis reached fever pitch when the Prime Minister said volunteers shouldn't be paid for their work during the worst season on record.

"ScoMo, we don't enjoy doing this s**t. It p***ed me off," he added.

"When are you going to start fessing up and doing what you say you're doing in parliament?"

"Nothing ever comes out of parliament that's any good. Come and have a look at what the people have really gone through. And people are seriously affected and it's going to take years for people to get over this, if they get over it at all."

The New South Wales RFS has released a statement to LADbible, disputing Mr Parker's claims.

It said: "The NSW RFS is aware of reports concerning the status of volunteer member Paul Parker from the Nelligen area.

"We can confirm Paul remains a member of the NSW RFS and has not been dismissed."

While being let go must be tough, at least he isn't having to pay for a drink at his local pub.

Joel Alvey, the licensee of the Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen, revealed last week that Paul's fans keep topping up his bar tab.

Steampacket Hotel

Joel told the Sydney Morning Herald: "Pretty much every day someone comes in and puts their money down, telling us to buy a few beers for that bloke who got stuck into the Prime Minister.

"We've had people ringing up from all around Australia, wanting to transfer money so Paul doesn't need to pay for his own beers.

"A lady from Brisbane raised $150 through a GoFundMe campaign. A bloke from Adelaide rang just today and is sending $20. I suppose about $500 has turned up, and it keeps coming."

Paul's neighbours set up a GoFundMe earlier this year to help him rebuild his home.

Topics: News, Bushfires, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie