Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Australian Open ahead of the men’s singles final on Sunday night.Credit:Getty Images
“It’s a bit of tradition in Australian sport,isn’t it?” Albanese said on Melbourne’s Fox FM radio station on Monday when asked if he expected the reception,which was markedly different from last year’s men’s finals,when he wasgreeted with cheers and applause.
The government has begun the year embroiled in a political firestorm over its changes to the stage 3 tax package – announced byAlbanese last week to provide more support to low and middle-income households – which Opposition LeaderPeter Dutton has attacked as a broken promise.
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Labor colleagues reiterated Albanese’s lack of concern over the booing,with Treasurer Jim Chalmers telling media not to read too much into it while Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said there was a “fine Australian tradition” of giving politicians a hard time.
“I think it’s a well-worn Australian tradition at sporting events for that to happen,and I don’t think we should read too much into it,” Chalmers said in Canberra on Monday.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also dismissed the incident,saying:“I’ve been at many sporting events over the years and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a prime minister or a politician get a cheer.”
But independent Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie was critical of the crowd’s reaction.