Tony Abbott says he loves Savage Garden despite the band’s former lead singer being gay
SAVAGE Garden’s Darren Hayes has revealed how he how he really feels about Tony Abbott, as a new poll shows how Australia has voted in the SSM survey so far.
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IN a bizarre twist, Tony Abbott has expressed his love for an Australian band whose lead singer is gay and married to a man.
After being outspoken in his criticism of US rapper Macklemore playing LGBTIQ anthem Same Love at the NRL grand final, the former prime minister said he was fond of pop duo Savage Garden.
The band’s former lead singer, Darren Hayes, is a vocal advocate for marriage equality and has been in a civil partnership with his husband Richard Cullen since 2006. The pair married in the United States in 2013.
Speaking to 2GB radio host Ray Hadley this morning about the final, Mr Abbott doubled down on his criticism of the NRL’s choice of entertainment.
Mr Abbott said he never wanted the song banned but was against the league’s choice of a musician that would politicise the event.
He jokingly said he didn’t listen to many current musicians — although Savage Garden was an exception — after Mr Hadley said he had been quizzed about unknowingly recording of a parody of Same Love in 2012.
“Like me Ray, you probably don’t listen to any music from after 1975 — except The Travelling Wilburys and Savage Garden, they were pretty good,” he said.
Mr Abbott also criticised the NRL importing a foreign singer instead of local talent.
“It’s an Australian sport. It’s the ultimate Australian weekend. Why do we need to import people — that’s a very, very good question,” he said.
RELATED: Darren Hayes ‘not a huge fan’ of Tony Abbott
Hayes responded to Mr Abbott’s comments today, telling the former prime minister in no uncertain terms: “I’m no fan of Tony Abbott”.
He also added in another tweet that “love wins in the end”.
I'm no fan of Tony of Abbott.
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) October 2, 2017
Speaking exclusively to News Corp, Hayes pointed out a lyric from Savage Garden’s 2000 hit single Affirmation.
“I’m the guy who sang the lyrics, ‘I believe you can’t control or choose your sexuality’ at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games while wearing an Aboriginal flag t-shirt,” Hayes said. “I think that speaks for itself.”
He also tweeted: “The tide changes but not without dragging up a lot of mud first. Hang in there Aussies. Love wins in the end. #SSM2017 #VoteYes #SSM”
It’s not the first time Mr Abbott has confessed he is a fan of the pop band. He was introduced to the chart-topping duo in 2015 by his children when it became clear the feelings were one-sided.
“I certainly do not listen to Tony Abbott,” Hayes tweeted at the time.
Promoting the Savage Garden compilation The Singles Hayes said he “wasn’t a huge fan” of Mr Abbott’s support.
The tide changes but not without dragging up a lot of mud first. Hang in there Aussies. Love wins in the end. #SSM2017 #VoteYes #SSM
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) October 2, 2017
“I’m not that much of a fan of somebody who doesn’t necessarily speak in the language of equality that I do, so I wasn’t a huge fan of that endorsement,” Hayes said.
Mr Abbott and Mr Hayes’ comments come as an exclusive Sky News ReachTel poll has revealed the ‘yes’ vote is on track to win the government’s postal survey.
The poll of nearly five thousand people found more than 64 per cent of those surveyed have sent back their ballot and voted ‘yes’.
A further six per cent still plan to vote ‘yes’ and 15.5 per cent have already voted ‘no’.
According to the figures, 79 per cent of Australians have already completed and posted their response.
Research conducted by the Marriage Equality campaign has supported the Sky News ReachTel, showing that Australians are voting in record numbers.
Seventy-seven per cent of Australians on the electoral roll have voted, with the survey not due to close until November 7.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics will announce the official tally so far on Tuesday, which is likely to be over 50 per cent of voters.
Originally published as Tony Abbott says he loves Savage Garden despite the band’s former lead singer being gay
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