Booing at sporting events is a national tradition, says Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese has brushed off being booed by the Australian Open crowd, calling it a ‘national tradition’, as he continues to spruik his changes to the stage three tax cuts.

Jodie Haydon and Anthony Albanese at the men's singles final in Melbourne on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Anthony Albanese has brushed off being booed by the Australian Open crowd, calling it a “national tradition”, as he continues to spruik his changes to the stage three tax cuts.

The Prime Minister told Melbourne radio on Monday that “everyone at the tennis who’s a taxpayer last night will get a tax cut”.

Others condemned the audience’s cold reception at Rod Laver arena on Sunday night, with Open executive Todd Woodbridge calling it “not great” and Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie questioning the negative reaction towards Mr Albanese.

“It’s a bit of a tradition in Australian sport, isn’t it?” Mr Albanese told Melbourne’s Fox FM radio, before reiterating the newly overhauled tax reforms were aimed at Middle Australia.

Mr Albanese was cheered and applauded at last year’s Open after an onlooker yelled “Give us a wave Albo”.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said people shouldn’t “read too much into it”, when asked about the crowd’s reaction at the men’s tennis final between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev. “I think it’s a well-worn Australian tradition at sporting events for that to happen,” he said.

Scott Morrison was booed at various AFL matches, as well as the Australian Open in 2019. Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd and John Howard were all booed at various NRL games.

An audio snippet of Mr Woodbridge acknowledging Mr Albanese’s attendance on Sunday and the hostile crowd reception was played back to the former tennis star.

“Well it was, for me, standing in the middle of the court, it was a lot louder than it actually even sounds in the audio there,” he said on ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday.

“I tried to move through, which was I think was the right thing to do, just to keep them quiet but they wouldn’t let me so then I obviously had to pause which was interesting.

“I didn’t think it was great. He’s our Prime Minister, and he was the elected official and I think we should respect that.”

Senator Lambie defended Mr Albanese, asking “Honestly, what are they booing him for?”

“Because well, we got a heap of rich people over there watching the tennis finals and they’ve had a bit of their tax taken off them to pay it forward, to give to those who are less fortunate?” she said.

“For God’s sakes, I don’t have a problem with that.

“They just don’t like him. They want the Liberals in … I’m not sure it’s any better.”