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Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has been accused of “world record hypocrisy” for accepting VIP seats at the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines Australian Open, where homosexuality is a capital offense.
The allegations come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also facing a chorus of criticism for spending three nights playing tennis but making only a fleeting visit to Alice Springs, where there has been a catastrophic breakdown of law and order.
Melbourne’s Talkback radio host Neil Mitchell was scathing on Tuesday after pointing out that Andrews and his wife Catherine were guests of the Dubai-based airline during the semi-final match between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday.
Victorian Prime Minister Dan Andrews and his wife Catherine were seen at the Australian Open on Friday enjoying the hospitality of Emirates airlines.
“Even for him, this was world record hypocrisy,” Mitchell thundered.
Mitchell reminded 3AW listeners of the prime minister’s uncompromising stance towards former NAB boss Andrew Thornburn, who was forced to resign shortly after taking over as chief executive of the Essendon AFL club over his links to a controversial church.
“The prime minister followed him and accused him of supporting a church that followed hate, bigotry and bigotry because it did not condone homosexuality and Andrew Thorburn was fired from that job before it started,” Mitchell said.
Thornburn resigned just one day after being appointed chief executive of Essendon after messages condemning homosexuality and abortion were discovered from the church he presided over, City on a Hill.
Mitchell said that one of the prime minister’s mantras at the time was “the standard you pass by is the standard you accept.”
Melbourne talkback host Neil Mitchell says Andrews is a “world record” hypocrite for accepting hospitality from an airline owned by rulers who allow gays to be executed when the prime minister was uncompromising in calling Andrew Thorburn for being linked to an intolerant church.
Emirates is owned by a public investment fund from the conservative Middle Eastern emirate of Dubai, which Mitchell criticized for setting “new standards in hate and intolerance” when “it comes to gay people.”
“Homosexuality is a capital offense (in Dubai) if punishable by death,” Mitchell said.
‘They execute homosexual people, they practice conversion therapy.
Andrew Thorburn was forced to resign as Essendon’s chief executive after the club faced a wave of criticism over his church’s religious views.
‘Andrew Thornburn’s church does not condone homosexuality but preaches love for homosexuals.
In Dubai they execute them.
Mitchell wondered how the prime minister could justify accepting free tickets and hospitality from the airline.
“My advice is, don’t even try,” Mitchell said.
Homosexuality is punishable by death in Dubai under Islamic Sharia law.
Mr. Albanese (pictured left) enjoys a beer at the Australian Open on Friday night for the men’s semi-final on Friday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mocking an ice cream at tennis with his partner Jodie Haydon and Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka in the men’s singles final on Sunday.
However, no arrests have been made for the crime since 2015, and the city is considered tolerant by regional standards.
The Premier and his wife appeared to enjoy the match despite the fact that, according to Andrews’ earlier comments, Djokovic should not have been playing as he has not been vaccinated against Covid.
The Serbian superstar was sensationally denied the right to play in the Melbourne Grand Slam last year after then Immigration Minister Alex Hawke canceled his visa after Djokovic was admitted on a waiver signed by Tennis Australia.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said watching the premier at tennis was a “kick to the stomach” for the Northern Territory locals.
Following Djokovic’s departure, Andrews accused Djokovic of thinking he was “bigger than the tournament”.
‘My position is very clear. If you want to come here, get vaccinated. It’s pretty simple,” Andrews said.
Djokovic also had a three-year travel ban on returning to Australia, but it was lifted in November, allowing him to claim his 10th Australian Open on Sunday.
Dan Andrews’ office has been contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, Albanese faces accusations that he is a ‘part-time PM’ and ‘FIFO (fly in, fly out)’ after making a rushed trip to Alice Springs on Tuesday but repeatedly appearing as a spectator at Rod Laver Arena. for the Open.
During the three nights he attended, Mr. Albanese seemed carefree as he enjoyed beer and ice cream while sitting next to his partner Jodie Haydon.
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, a former deputy mayor of Alice Springs, was relentless in her assessment of Albanese priorities.
“It is an insult and a kick in the stomach to the people of Alice Springs to see the prime minister spend more time relaxing and drinking beers on the tennis court than he did in Alice Springs,” Senator Price told reporters.
‘The threats and chaos have not stopped.
“We locals are subject to no longer being able to shop after 7pm as our malls and the city go into lockdown.”
It was a refrain echoed by Warren Mundine, former Labor Party national chairman and Liberal candidate, who said jovial images of the prime minister enjoying tennis made him feel “very, very sick.”
“The prime minister goes up there (Alice Springs) for two hours and spends three days on the tennis court drinking grog with his friends and taking selfies,” Mundine told Sydney radio station 2GB.
“All he and his ministers have been doing is flying around this country having a great time going to sporting events,” Mr Mundine said.
“The country is hurting, the country is hurting now get out of the corporate boxes and stop drinking alcohol and really do your damn job.”
An image of a fight taking place outside the fence of an Alice Springs hotel, which was posted by a nurse as an example of the nightly mayhem that occurs in central Australia.
Albanese was a strong critic of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison for taking a holiday during the huge bushfires over the New Year period of 2020.
The then leader of the opposition latched on to Morrison’s blunder that he was not ‘holding a hose’ and vowed to be different.
I won’t lose myself when the going gets tough. I will accept the responsibility that comes with high office. I will lead a government that pays and rewards their hard work,” Albanese said after debating Morrison in April before winning power.
A nurse who posted terrifying images of indigenous youth repeatedly harassing clients at the Alice Springs diplomatic hotel said the problem had been covered up during the Albanese visit.
“Our prime minister came during the week so they rounded up and bused all the kids out so there was nothing to see,” Rachel Hale alleged.
‘Shameful. Face the problem head on, don’t hide it!’
Both Senator Price and Mr. Mundine called on the Prime Minister and Linda Burney, Minister for Indigenous Australians, to return to Alice Springs.
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said Albanese spent “just four hours” in Alice Springs but the days at tennis “failed the pub test”.
“You can’t be a part-time prime minister,” he said.