Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese have each shared a Christmas message with both leaders commending the tireless firefighters as the bushfire crisis continues. The Prime Minister joined by his wife Jenny, reflected on the tougher times endured by Australians in 2019 and said Australians had 'stood up' and shown 'tremendous spirit'. Image: Getty

A mural of Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Hawaiian garb with flames rising all around him has appeared on an inner-Sydney wall.

Artist Scott Marsh on Tuesday posted a photo of the Chippendale artwork - with Mr Morrison saying “Merry Crisis!!” via a speech bubble - on Instagram. Mr Morrison is depicted in the mural wearing an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, orange lei and Santa Claus hat while holding a cocktail.

In the background, red and black flames rise high.

It follows the prime minister’s decision last weekend to cut an overseas family holiday in the US state short to respond to the bushfire crisis. “Heading out to Hawaii when the country is literally on fire is probably not a really great move in terms of leadership. I think public sentiment around that is all pretty unified,” Mr Marsh told AAP on Tuesday.

“I painted it all last night, took about three hours, woke up 5am this morning and finished it this afternoon - in time for Santa.” Mr Morrison touched down in Sydney on Saturday evening and returned to work on Sunday, admitting he may have erred in visiting Hawaii at that time. Mr Morrison said to the Australians he had upset by being away during the latest bushfire emergency: “I apologise for that.”

At least 873 homes have been destroyed in NSW in the bushfire season to date, as well as almost 100 in South Australia and more than a dozen in Queensland. Mr Marsh said T-shirts and prints of the mural would be available for purchase in the coming days, with proceeds to go to the Rural Fire Service.