SYDNEY (AFP, BLOOMBERG) - Under-fire Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday (Dec 23) rejected calls for "reckless" and "job-destroying" cuts to the country's vast coal industry in the face of a deadly climate change-fuelled bush fire crisis.

His comments came as the devastating wildfires, which at the weekend destroyed close to 200 homes and claimed another life, showed no sign of abating and are poised to blight Christmas celebrations.