Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison received a frosty reception from Victorians at the MCG while attending the state funeral for cricket legend Shane Warne.
Boos could be heard erupting from the 30,000 people in the stands as the Prime Minister's name was read out by Eddie Maguire as part of the official party.
Scott Morrison being audibly booed at Shane Warne’s Memorial at the MCG. pic.twitter.com/31YXepDW7A
— Simon Barnhill (@SimonBarnhill) March 30, 2022
The PM shirked his previous engagement - to appear on ABC’s 7:30 with Leigh Sales to spruik his pre-election budget to voters - to attend the state service for Warnie.
The Prime Minister had hoped the budget would help reset the narrative in the lead-up to the election, but with media and Australian eyes pointed firmly toward the MCG and away from Canberra, the PM changed his plans last-minute.
Morrison was joined at the MCG by Opposition leader Anthony Albanese, but it was the Prime Minister who copped the negative reaction from the crowd.
He was seen smirking as the public savagely booed him; a grim sign for the unpopular leader's re-election hopes.
The moment has divided social media users as to whether it was appropriate to boo the Aussie Prime Minister during a state funeral.
Boos for Scott Morrison at the Shane Warne memorial 😬
— Brittany Mitchell (@BrittMitchell11) March 30, 2022
Ha. Boos were heard when Eddie Maguire acknowledged Scott Morrison's attendance at Warne's memorial. Nice touch. #auspol
— (Jenny) "Charmaine" Frecklington-Jones 🇺🇦🌏🔥💉 (@JonesHowdareyou) March 30, 2022
One Twitter user wrote: "Ha, Boos when Eddie Maguire acknowledged Scott Morrison's attendance at Shane Warne's memorial service. Nice touch."
Another added: "I wouldn't oppose booing Morrison in most places but really they should leave it out here. I don't think it's something Warnie would have endorsed."
A third wrote: "Yeah, I'm cool with him (or any politician) being booed most places but not at a memorial service."
Scott will be looking for a photo opp to try & distract us from the roasting he got last night.
— Meredyth 💉💉💉😷🧙♀️🧘♀️🇺🇦 (@LoveMeredyth) March 30, 2022
Now he knows what Victorians truly think of him.
Scott Morrison just got boo'd when introduced at Shane Warne's state memorial 👍#thedrum #ShaneWarne #ScottyTheScumbag #ScottyTheBully #ScottyTheCompletePsycho pic.twitter.com/5mNraXg5LO
— C h r i s (He/Him) 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🌏🌲🖤💛❤️💉💉💉 (@Chris86767838) March 30, 2022
It is not uncommon for fans to boo the sitting Prime Minister at major sporting events, with Morrison describing it to reporters in 2019 as 'a great tradition'.
"I would be disappointed if they didn't," the Prime Minister said at the time. "Bob Hawke and everyone else got the same treatment at games."
Speaking with Seven, Morrison had a message for Australia and the Warne family despite the savage crowd reaction.
Lots of tweets gleefully exclaiming #ShaneWarneMemorial crowd booed @ScottMorrisonMP apart from perhaps #BobHawke can you name a PM that hasn’t been booed at a sporting event even though this was a sporting memorial. It’s part of our DNA to boo PMs Not in support of Morrison
— David Savage 🇺🇦 (@DavidSavage63) March 30, 2022
“My message to all Australians, but particularly to Shane’s family, is thank you. Thank you for sharing Shane with all of us,” he said.
“I hope tonight what people will be able to do is just pour out their love for Shane and he and all of his family.
"That’s what I hope that they will see the great celebration of his life and be simply comforted by that.
“Shane has given us all so many wonderful moments, and he’s such an Australian character and an Australian icon.
"So I’m looking forward to seeing his life celebrated tonight, and I hope the family take away from that a sense of comfort.”
