Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has attracted criticism for claiming that God "didn't want people to live in Australia" so has set fire to it.

In a column for UK newspaper The Sun, Clarkson tried to take a light-hearted approach to the ongoing bushfire crisis, which has so far claimed at least 23 lives.

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Clarkson said God created Australia "as a continent far, far away where he could house all his experiments that had gone wrong", before listing the saltwater crocodile, the redback spider and the nation's many snakes as examples.

"He even used this remote outpost to house some of his more ridiculous ideas. Stuff he came up with when he was drunk. Like those birds that can't fly and that otter with a beak.

"And to make sure people didn't go there, he put a huge coral reef on the approaches ... For millions of years, this big, sandy cupboard under the stairs went unnoticed," he said, seemingly ignoring Australia's Indigenous history.

"But then along came Captain Cook and now the world knows all about Oz and its stupid, dangerous creatures.

"Plainly, God is embarrassed. Because he's decided to set fire to it."

God is embarrassed. Because he's decided to set fire to [Australia] Jeremy Clarkson

His final thought was "people must accept that Australia isn't meant for human habitation. So if you're reading this down there, please come home".

Many social media users in both Australia and the UK slammed Clarkson for his remarks.

Some said the timing was "disrespectful", as fires continue to burn and the death toll continues to rise.

I know it’s supposed to be funny but it’s pretty disrespectful, especially to have it published in the middle of a crisis when there are still emergency level fires burning and people who were in “safe” areas have to evacuate — Apricot Pastel (@apricotpastel) January 5, 2020

Why is anyone requesting Jeremy Clarkson write a Column about the Australian bush fires? He can’t, and doesn’t, offer any substance or wisdom regarding the situation. A disgusting & monumental failure to be funny at the complete wrong time. Do you really have no compassion? Moron — Jimmy. (@ImJimmyMcCallum) January 4, 2020



At least 23 people dead, many more missing, more than 1,500 homes lost, livelihoods/farms/businesses destroyed, millions of livestock, pets & native animals dead, fears of mass extinctions of endangered species, native bushland destroyed on a huge scale.Yep let's all have a laugh — Neil Grant (@Irate01) January 5, 2020

Others suggested there were racist undertones to the piece.

Not to mention apparently Australia was uninhabited before Captain Cook came along 🙄 — renne miles (@rennemiles) January 4, 2020

So indigenous Australians, who successfully inhabited Australia for 65+K years, when Britain was still under an ice sheet, ... are not human???? — Hanny Hawkins (@hanny_hawkins) January 5, 2020

As offensive as Captain Cook declaring Australia to be



Terra Nullius



or “No one's land"



Unoccupied. Single longest surviving culture in the world, but people weren't meant to live here? — Kate Hacked (@KateHack1) January 5, 2020

Yeah I guess 60,0000+ years of human habitation aren’t good enough for him? Why does he seem like a relic of the Colonial era? — Iain Dawson ✊🏻🌈 (@iainisthenew) January 5, 2020

Clarkson has a history of making controversial comments, recently calling teen climate activist Greta Thunberg an "idiot" who has killed the concept of a car show.

So far, more than 1,800 homes have been destroyed and five million hectares burnt during Australia's horror bushfire season.