London: Liberal MP Craig Kelly has defended Prime Minister Scott Morrison's handling of the bushfire crisis during a television interview in Britain that descended into chaos after the hosts savaged the self-proclaimed climate sceptic.

The backbencher was called a "disgrace" and told to "wake up" during the combative encounter that threatens to undermine Morrison's efforts to reassure Australians that his government accepts the link between climate change and extreme weather events.

Local firefighters battle a fire at Mangrove Mountain in NSW.Credit:Wolter Peeters

The show's weather presenter Laura Tobin interrupted and reminded Kelly that 2019 was Australia's hottest and driest on record.

"You have the second highest carbon emissions per person on earth and you are burying your head in the sand. You aren't a climate sceptic you are a climate denier," she said of Kelly. He did not take exception with that description.

Nine of the 10 warmest years on record in Australia have occurred since 2005 and fire chiefs have said the length and severity of this bushfire season in unprecedented.

Morrison on Sunday stressed he and his government accepted the link between climate change and weather.

"I should stress that there is no dispute in this country about the issue of climate change globally, and its effect on global weather patterns, and that includes how that impacts in Australia," he said.

"Because I have to correct the record here. I have seen a number of people suggest that somehow the government does not make this connection. The government I lead has always made that connection and that has never been in dispute."

Tennis star Pat Cash and three Australian firefighters who were also part of the Good Morning Britain segment watched on in stony-faced silence as the television debate escalated.

Kelly also defended Morrison when Morgan criticised the Prime Minister for travelling to Hawaii as the fires raged.

"The only thing the national leader can actually do is wait until he gets a response from … state premiers asking for more resources," Kelly said. "Every time those state premiers have come forward and said we need something, the Prime Minister has done that."

Morgan eventually thanked Kelly for appearing before cutting the interview short.

"I've got to say: wake up. Wake up. Climate change and global warming are real and Australia right now is showing the entire world just how devastating it is," Morgan said as he farewelled Kelly.

"And for senior politicians in Australia to still pretend there's no connection is absolutely disgraceful."

Kelly's decision to appear on British television will anger some colleagues who are concerned the bushfire crisis is already attracting major international attention and could harm the nation's important tourism industry.

Tourism Australia has suspended the digital element of a new $15 million advertising campaign designed to lure Brexit-fatigued Brits to Australia. The ad, which has been months in the planning, launched just as the bushfire crisis escalated and became headline news in the United Kingdom.

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