Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attacked over innocent Australian Open moment

Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese has been bizarrely scrutinised over a seemingly innocent moment during the Australian Open.

A moment during prime minister Anthony Albanese’s appearance at the Australian Open has caused a stir among a group of his critics.

The 59-year-old was in attendance at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne as Novak Djokovic executed his thumping win over American Tommy Paul on Friday.

As silence swept over the crowd before one of Paul’s service games, one spectator yelled out: “Give us a wave, ‘Albo’.”

Albanese, seated alongside US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy and Tennis Australia chair Jayne Hrdlicka, responded with a sheepish wave.

The crowd was giggling away at the exchange before the TV cameras showed Albanese chuckling with those around him.

This innocent wave opened the flood gates to critics. Picture: Twitter

Response to his “self-effacing wave” online however has attracted more of a mixed response, with people using a tweet about it to attack him from all angles.

The tweet commended the PM on his modest response and speculated how former leader Scott Morrison may have reacted differently.

“The “Give us a wave, Albo!” moment is delightful. Albanese is a PM leading a Govt that is doing lots of good work across numerous portfolios. He responds to the request with a modest, self-effacing wave. Albo is very different to the attention-seeking Morrison," the tweet read.

Despite the positive tone of the tweet, critics of Mr Albanese were fast to hit back with where they felt he was going wrong.

Hmmm…I guess you’ve forgotten Alice Springs not a lot of great work happening there.

— Grace P (@missyPP) January 29, 2023

There's problems in Alice Springs so #airbus@AlboMP is pushed into doing something so goes there for 4 hours then goes to the tennis and spends 6 hours there doing selfies ect... This is has to be the worst PM in Australian history. Imagine if Scott Morrison did same?

— 👠 ☔ 👌🇦🇺 🏳️‍🌈 🌸 Golden Girl (@Terri_1987a) January 28, 2023

“Spent more time at the tennis than in Alice and only went after public pressure … so much for ‘being there in a crisis’ another of his election promises,” one respondent said.

Another said Albo could be doing a lot better in his new role.

“Chalk and cheese. I rate the new govt about 6/10. Solid start, but could do better if it tried on: asylum seekers, climate & renewable energy, pandemic management and public education funding. In contrast, on a scale of 1 to 10, the previous govt was well into the negative,” they said.

Someone else said they were “ashamed” they voted for Albanese.

Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon were there on Sunday for the men’s final. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

“Really? I voted for him and I’m thoroughly ashamed,” they wrote.

The PM was also attacked over his government’s Covid strategy.

“With that amount of support you’d hope he’d have the courage and integrity to mount an effective Covid mitigation policy,” one person said.

One even went so far as to label him the “worst PM in Australian history”.

Others felt it was nice to finally see Australia’s PM receive a warm reception in a public arena.

“Australia’s leader at Australia’s Open being cheered. Great to see,” one said.

“Humble … the very opposite of the bloke before him …. And isn’t that great for all Australians,” another added.

The author of the original tweet was in disbelief at how “right wing nut jobs” had hijacked a positive anecdote about the PM.

Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon, Jayne Hrdlicka and Rod Laver watch the men’s singles final on Sunday evening. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I posted a tweet praising Albo’s modest, self-effacing wave at the tennis. Some RWNJs did NOT like that! When I check their profiles, and who some of them follow, I genuinely wonder if they’re Liberal Party staffers,” he wrote.

In another tweet shared Monday, he suggested there would have been further outrage from Albo’s critics had he not have attended the Australian Open at all.

“Can you imagine the faux outrage from the Right if the PM had failed to attend the Australian Open?! There would be angry criticism for not supporting a major sporting event. I noticed when he did attend, Albanese was still the same modest, self-effacing Albo,” he wrote.

Originally published as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attacked over innocent Australian Open moment