Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has been accused of 'world-record hypocrisy' for accepting Australian Open VIP seats from the airline Emirates, which is based in Dubai, where homosexuality is a capital crime.
The accusations come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also faces a chorus of criticism for spending three nights at the tennis but paying only a fleeting visit to Alice Springs, where there has been a catastrophic collapse of law and order.
Melbourne talkback radio host Neil Mitchell was scathing on Tuesday after noting Mr Andrews and his wife Catherine were guests of the Dubai-based carrier during the semi-final match between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday.
'Even for him, this was world-record hypocrisy,' Mitchell thundered.
Mitchell reminded 3AW listeners of the premier's uncompromising stance toward former NAB boss Andrew Thornburn who was forced to resign shortly after taking the job as Essendon AFL club CEO over his links to a controversial church.
'The premier took after him and accused him of supporting a church that followed hatred, intolerance and bigotry because it didn't approve of homosexuality and Andrew Thorburn was effectively drummed out of that job before he started,' Mitchell said.
Mr Thornburn stood down only a day after being appointed Essendon CEO after messages condemning homosexuality and abortion were unearthed from the church he chaired, City on a Hill.
Mitchell stated one of the premier's mantras at the time was 'the standard you walk past is the standard you accept'.
Emirates is owned by a public investment fund of the conservative Middle East emirate of Dubai, which Mitchell lambasted as setting 'new standards in hatred and bigotry' when 'it comes to gay people'.
'Homosexuality is a capital crime (in Dubai) is it punishable by death,' Mitchell stated.
'They execute gay people, they practice conversion therapy.
'Andrew Thornburn's church doesn't approve of homosexuality but it preaches love towards gay people.
'In Dubai they execute them.'
Mitchell wondered how the Premier could justify accepting free tickets and hospitality from the airline.
'My tip is he won't even try,' Mitchell stated.
Homosexuality is punishable by death in Dubai under Islamic Sharia law.
However, no arrests for the crime have been made since 2015, and the city is considered tolerant by the region's standards.
The Premier and his wife appeared to enjoy the match despite the fact that according to Mr Andrews' previous comments Djokovic should not have been playing as he has not been vaccinated against Covid.
The Serbian superstar was sensationally denied the right to play in the Melbourne grand slam last year after then Immigration Minister Alex Hawke cancelled his visa after Djokovic was admitted with an exemption signed off by Tennis Australia.
Following Djokovic's departure Mr Andrews accused Djokovic of thinking he was 'bigger than the tournament'.
'My position is very clear. You want to come here — get vaccinated. It's pretty simple,' Mr Andrews said.
Djokovic also had a three-year travel ban on returning to Australia but that was waived in November allowing him to claim his 10th Australian Open on Sunday.
Dan Andrews' office has been contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, Mr Albanese faces accusations he is a 'part-time' and 'FIFO (fly in, fly out) prime minister' after making a rushed trip to Alice Springs on Tuesday but repeatedly turning up as a spectator at Rod Laver Arena for the Open.
During the three night he attended Mr Albanese looked carefree as he enjoyed beer and ice creams seated next to partner Jodie Haydon.
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who served as the former deputy mayor of Alice Springs, was unsparing in her appraisal of Mr Albanese's priorities.
'It's an insult and a kick in the guts for the people of Alice Springs to see the PM spending more time relaxing and chugging back beers at the tennis than what he did on the ground in Alice Springs,' Senator Price told reporters.
'The threats and mayhem haven't stopped.
'We locals are subject to no longer being able to shop after 7pm as our shopping centres and town goes into lockdown.'
It was a refrain echoed by Warren Mundine, a former Labor Party national president and Liberal candidate, who said the jovial pictures of the prime minister enjoying the tennis made him feel 'really, really sick'.
'The Prime Minster goes up there (Alice Springs) for two hours, and he spends three days at the tennis drinking grog with his mates and doing selfies,' Mr Mundine told Sydney radio station 2GB.
'All he and his ministers have been doing is flying around this country having great times going to sporting events,' said Mr Mundine.
'The country is hurting, the country is hurting now get out of the corporate boxes and stop drinking alcohol and actually do your bloody job.'
Mr Albanese was a strong critic of former Prime Minster Scott Morrison for taking a holiday during the huge bushfires over the New Year period of 2020.
The then opposition leader latched onto Mr Morrison's gaffe that he didn't 'hold a hose' and promised to be different.
'I won't go missing when the going gets tough. I will accept the responsibility that comes with high office. I will lead a government that repays and rewards your hard work,' Mr Albanese said after debating Mr Morrison in April before winning power.
A nurse who posted frightening footage of Indigenous youth repeatedly violently harassing patrons at the Alice Springs Diplomatic Hotel said the problem had been covered up during Mr Albanese's visit.
'Our PM arrived during the week so they rounded up and bussed out all the kids so there was nothing to see!,' Rachel Hale alleged.
'Disgraceful. Confront the problem head on, don't cover it up!'
Both Senator Price and Mr Mundine called on the PM and Linda Burney, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, to return to Alice Springs.
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said Mr Albanese spending 'just four hours' in Alice Springs but days at the tennis 'didn't pass the pub test'.
'You don't get to be a part-time prime minister,' she said.
