Australia’s acting prime minister has told a group of climate activists to “go and do something productive” as record-breaking temperatures exacerbate the wildfire crisis gripping the country.

The protesters have camped outside prime minister Scott Morrison’s official residence in Sydney and have vowed to stay put until he returns from holiday.

“Our direct message to Scott Morrison is for him to come home,” said Ambrose Hayes, a 14-year-old school pupil who is one of those organising the protest.

“Even though he’s entitled to a holiday, it shouldn’t be at a time when Australia is in crisis.”

But deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has criticised the climate campers, accusing them of wasting their time outside an empty house.

States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Show all 15 1 /15 States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A firefighter works on a bushfire believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike that has ravaged an area of over 2,000 hectares in northern New South Wales state AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A dehydrated and injured Koala receives treatment at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A water tanker airplane drops fire retardant on a bushfire in Harrington, New South Wales EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A kangaroo is seen by the burnt remains of a vintage car in Torrington Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Photo taken on November 9, 2019 shows bushfires taken from a plane in over north eastern New South Wales AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Andrew Mackenzie surveys the damage around his home in Torrington Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters conduct property protection as a bushfire burns close to homes on Railway Parade in Woodford NSW AP States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) comforts 85-year-old resident Owen Whalan at an evacauation centre in Taree 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Fire burns at Bolivia Hill in Glen Innes Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A resident puts out small fires as he rides his motorcycle in Old Bar, New South Wales EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A fire rages in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney on November 9, 2019, as firefighters try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Construction workers speak as smoke haze drifts over Sydney, Australia EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A vintage Jaguar car sits in ruins after a bushfire destroyed a property in Old Bar, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A fire rages in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images

Speaking to the protesters through reporters at the Rural Fire Service control centre in Sydney, he said: “Go and do something productive. Go donate your time to Meals on Wheels or something like that.

“The fact is, the PM is not there. He’s having a well deserved holiday.”

Australia is currently sweltering during a “once-in-a-lifetime” heatwave, with first Tuesday and then Wednesday beating the record to be the country’s hottest-ever days.

The country is also grappling with a series of wildfires, which have killed six people and destroyed hundreds of homes.

New South Wales has already declared a state of emergency as it battles more than 100 individual bushfires, over fears the soaring temperatures and wind will worsen the crisis.

Severe weather warning: extensive heatwave affecting large parts of Australia

Mr Morrison has faced increasing anger over his climate change policies as a result. Protesters in Sydney are demanding the government cancel all new coal and gas projects, transition to 100 per cent renewable energy and create a funding framework for fossil fuel workers.

Initially, ministers downplayed suggestions climate change could be exacerbating the wildfires, with Mr McCormack dismissing the idea as coming from “raving inner-city lefties”.

“We’ve had fires in Australia since time began,” he said.

But Mr Morrison has now conceded climate change was one of the factors at work, although he insisted Australian policies alone could not affect the global climate.

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However, international experts including the UN and the 2020 Climate Change Performance Index have said Australia must up its game to meet its emissions commitments and criticised Mr Morrison’s government for its inaction.

A local doctor, Kim Loo, warned the demonstration the crisis was not just an environmental emergency, but a health one too.

“It is negligent not to do anything about mitigation or adaptation. It is criminal to continue mining, burning, exporting oil, coal and gas because it’s fuelling the crisis.