Australians have condemned the ‘disrespectful’ booing of Scott Morrison as he jetted in to Melbourne to pay his respects to Shane Warne at the cricket legend’s state memorial.
The Prime Minister was greeted with a frosty reception as he arrived at the emotionally-charged service on Wednesday night.
As host Eddie McGuire welcomed Mr Morrison into the MCG, the stadium of over 50,000 fans erupted into boos.
The moment has divided social media users as to whether it was appropriate to boo the nation’s leader during the service, with some slamming it as ‘disrespectful’.
‘You had the privilege of being there but had no respect. Not the time or place. Shame on you!’ a Facebook user commented.
Scott Morrison has been greeted with a frosty reception while arriving at the state memorial service for Shane Warne
Another Facebook user wrote: ‘How disrespectful, regardless if you like or hate the man, this was not the bloody time or place!’
A third said: ‘No matter what, a memorial is not the time for this behaviour. Politics and people’s opinion should not distract from a celebration of someone’s life.’
‘If you care more about booing someone at a memorial than you do about the person the memorial is for you shouldn’t even be there,’ a fourth added.
‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Either way he will get criticised. I thought it was about Warnie, not who was there. RIP Warnie,’ another wrote.
Up to 50,000 fans, politicians, celebrities, sports and rock stars attended the service but it was Warne’s three children that were the true stars of the evening
A Who’s Who of Australian society joined more than 50,000 fans on Wednesday to say goodbye to Warne, who died aged 52 during a boy’s trip on March 4
Fans usually boo the Prime Minister at major sporting events with Mr Morrison previously describing it as ‘a great tradition’.
‘I would be disappointed if they didn’t,’ Mr Morrison told reporters in 2019.
‘Bob Hawke and everyone else got the same treatment at games.’
A Who’s Who of Australian society joined more than 50,000 fans on Wednesday to say goodbye to Warne, who died aged 52 during a boy’s trip on March 4.
Mr Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese had travelled to Melbourne together for the service with the leaders appearing solemn as they arrived.
As host Eddie McGuire welcomed Mr Morrison into the MCG, the stadium of over 50,000 emotionally-charged fans erupted into boos
Warne’s children; Brooke, 24, Jackson, 23, (pictured) and Summer, 20, brought the emotional crowd to tears in moving speeches about their dad
The Prime Minister wore a black suit and tie for the sombre occasion, as he walked through the crowd to say goodbye to the iconic Australian for the final time.
Warne’s children Brooke, 24, Jackson, 23, and Summer, 20, brought the emotional crowd to tears in moving speeches about their larrikin father.
‘You will always be with us, dad – just not in the way that we had hoped,’ said Summer, known as ‘SJ’ to Warne.
‘You lived 100 lives, dad. You never took anything for granted and you made sure that you lived every day to the absolute fullest.’
Jackson, looking every inch his father’s son, was poised as he talked about his hero who was taken too soon.
‘I feel like I’ve been robbed,’ he said.
Jackson, looking every inch his father’s son, confidently wowed the MCG with his poise as he talked about his hero who was taken too soon
You will always be with us, dad – just not in the way that we had hoped,’ said Summer, (middle) known as SJ to Warne in an emotional speech at the service
Daughter Brooke, the last of Warne’s children to speak, managed to end on a high note by sharing the simple things she would miss about her dad.
Through tears, Brooke said: ‘I will miss grabbing your big wrists and feeling your hands and saying that I have big fat fingers just like you.
‘I will miss our chats about how big our double chins are and how big our bellies are looking, especially after we’ve just eaten our body weight in cheese, pizza and pasta.’
Warne’s children later unveiled the Shane Keith Warne memorial stand at the MCG – the same area he sat in as a child before embarking on his legendary career
As host Eddie McGuire welcomed the prime minister to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday night, the stadium erupted boos (pictured)
Mr Morrison was previously scheduled to appear on ABC’s 7:30 report with Leigh Sales to pitch his pre-election budget to voters.
However, the ABC host informed viewers on Wednesday afternoon that Mr Morrison had withdrawn and is due to appear next week.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Mr Morrison’s plans were changed so he could attend Warne’s memorial service.
‘In order to arrive on time for this evening’s Shane Warne memorial, the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition need to leave Canberra earlier than originally planned,’ it said.
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