CANBERRA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under fire for going on holiday with his family while bushfires continue to burn across the country.

Responding to news of the holiday, members of the Opposition Labor Party have accused the prime minister of abandoning rural communities currently battling bushfires in his home state of New South Wales (NSW).

On Wednesday, Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack defended Morrison, saying that he could not take time off in January -- when Australian prime ministers have traditionally taken a break -- because of the planned visits to India and Japan.

"Everybody deserves a holiday," McCormack told reporters, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"Everybody deserves a break. He worked hard this year, achieved great things for Australia," McCormack said.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said he didn't have concerns with Morrison's decision to take a break but he had an issue with the way the government had handled the bushfires.