Tony Abbott slams Anna Wintour’s criticism of Margaret Court and Scott Morrison

Tony Abbott has returned serve at Anna Wintour after her criticism of Scott Morrison and Margaret Court over gay rights.

Anna Wintour, inset, has slammed Margaret Court’s views on homosexuality.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has slammed Anna Wintour’s comments on Margaret Court, saying the editor in chief of US Vogue shouldn’t give “ignorant lectures”.

“First of all, I think she’s got her facts wrong because gay kids aren’t expelled from schools for being gay. There’s no evidence that its happening and there’s no who thinks that it should happen,” he said.

“Second point to make is that Margaret Court is a distinguished Australian who is entitled to her views. And the third point to make is that, when I go overseas I try not to give ignorant lectures attacking other countries, and I think visitors to Australia should pay us the same respect”.

Tony Abbott at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

Earlier, Wintour lobbed a verbal volley at the tennis legend, attacking her stance on gay rights and questioning why her name remained on the stadium at Melbourne Park.

Wintour, who is visiting Melbourne to attend the Australian Open, also waded into the issue of Scott Morrison and the Coalition’s position on religious freedoms in Australian schools.

In a speech in Melbourne today at an Australian Open Inspirational brunch, Wintour took aim at Court whose record of winning the most singles titles in women’s grand slam tournaments still stands.

Fashion editor Anna Wintour (left) and Julie Bishop at the 2019 Australian Open Inspirational Series Brunch in Melbourne.

Court, a Pentecostal pastor, was criticised during the same-sex marriage debate for being vocal against legislating for gay marriage. She has also claimed “tennis is full of lesbians” and that transgender children were the work of “the devil” and condemned the gay lobby for seeking to “get into the minds of children” through the Safe Schools anti-bullying program.

“I find that it is inconsistent with the sport (of tennis) for Margaret Court’s name to be on a stadium that does so much to bring all the people together across their differences,” said Wintour.

“This much I think is clear to anyone that understands the spirit and the joy of the game. Intolerance has no place in tennis.

“Margaret was a champion on the court, but a meeting point for players of all nations, preferences and backgrounds should celebrate somebody that was a champion off the court as well.”

The audience cheered her enthusiastically — but Wintour wasn’t done.

Fashion editor Anna Wintour at the 2019 Australian Open Inspirational Series Brunch.

While she said that the rest of the world “sang in celebration” with Australia at the passing of same sex marriage two years ago, she singled out Scott Morrison for further scrutiny over the rights of same-sex and trans children in schools,

“Like so many of you I have been alarmed by your Prime Minister’s record on LGBTQ rights, which seems backward in all senses,’’ she said.

Anna Wintour meets PM Scott Morrison and Bridget Mackenzie at the Australian Open in Melbourne this week. Source: Instagram

“That no-one can be expelled from school for their orientation should not require clarification. A government should protect its people, not make it unclear whether they will be accepted and we are struggling with these issues in the United States as well.”

She included a word of warning to the Coalition government. “Fortunately, though, opportunities for leadership and change extend beyond the leaders of the moment.”

Following the address during questions Wintour was asked who she would be likely to support for US president in 2020. “I will vote for the person who can beat President Trump.”

Anna Wintour (left) and Australian film director Baz Luhrmann, right, in the crowd during the men's singles quarterfinals match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Kei Nishikori of Japan.