Parts of Australia are on fire at the moment during what's being described as an unprecedented start to the bushfire season.
Firefighters have confirmed that three people have died and more than 150 homes have been lost.
As experts continue to battle these flames, politicians have travelled to some of the hardest hit areas to speak with locals.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was asked by the media whether he thought climate change is playing a role in the severity of the bushfires, however he refused to answer the question.
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"My only thoughts today are with those who have lost their lives and their families. The firefighters who are fighting the fires, the response effort that has to be delivered and how the Commonwealth has to responded in supporting those efforts," he told reporters near Port Macquarie.
Mr Morrison also posted a tweet that he was sending 'thoughts and prayers' to those people who were doing it tough.
But his reaction has been slammed by Glen Innes Severn Council mayor Carol Sparks, who presides over an area that has been devastated by the inferno.
"It's unbelievable - how can he deny it?" the Greens councillor told AAP.
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"It's becoming more and more obvious surely. Why isn't he saying 'yes it is climate change'? Why isn't he saying 'we will do all we can to help'? He is our leader. He should know better."
"We are so impacted by drought and the lack of rain.
"It's climate change, there's no doubt about it. The whole of the country is going to be affected. We need to take a serious look at our future."
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack was asked by ABC Radio National about his thoughts about whether there was a link.
This was his response: "We've had fires in Australia since time began, and what people need now is sympathy, understanding, help and shelter.
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"They don't need the ravings of some pure, enlightened and woke capital-city greenies at this time."
Similarly, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian was quizzed about her thoughts on linking the bushfires and climate change.
She's told ABC that it wasn't the time or place to be speaking about 'political' issues.
"There's no doubt drought has contributed to the conditions...But I don't think it's appropriate to get into a political argument as to what the causes are at this stage," she said on ABC Breakfast.
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Experts have explained that the start to the fire season has been unprecedented based off the number of fires, amount of land burned and number of homes lost.
Forecasters are expecting 'catastrophic conditions' for the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Greater Hunter areas tomorrow. Temperatures are tipped to get into the mid-30s and wind is forecast to be high - which, teamed with the already extremely dry conditions, is the perfect storm for bushfires.
Anthony Clark from the RFS said: "There's a lot of hard work ahead of us, but the simple message is we're not going to get on top of those fires before these really bad conditions hit on Tuesday."
Topics: News, Australia, politics
