Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come under fire for spending more time enjoying an ice cream and sipping a beer at the Australian Open than he did in Alice Springs.
Mr Albanese was in Melbourne over the weekend, where he attended both men’s and women’s finals, as well as Friday night’s semi-final.
Criticism has been mounting, arguing he spent considerably more time at Melbourne Park than he did in crisis-ridden Alice Springs.
He travelled to the town on Tuesday, and spent a few hours on the ground.
Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley said there had been tennis matches played at the Australian open that had lasted longer than Mr Albanese’s visit to Alice Springs.
“The people of Alice Springs need national leadership, and they aren’t getting that from Mr Albanese,” Ms Ley said.
“We need more leadership from the Prime Minister. If he wants to go to the tennis that’s up to him and there’s no issue with that, but the fact he’s seemingly spent three days watching the tennis in Melbourne and just four hours in Alice Springs doesn’t pass the pub test.
“You don’t get to be a part-time Prime Minister.”
Alice Springs-based senator Jacinta Price told The Herald Sun it was 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,” she said.
Senator Price retweeted an image of Mr Albanese drinking a beer at the tennis, with the text: “just knocking one back for the folks in Alice Springs. Thinking about you mob. Cheers”.
“Sums it up really,” Senator Price said.
Controversial radio and television personality Prue MacSween also took a swipe at Mr Albanese.
“Hey (Mr Albanese) sorry to interrupt the socialising, but are you serious about confronting the real issues in Alice Springs, or are you too busy worrying about virtue signalling?” she tweeted.
“Have you got the metal to address the crisis and intervene? I doubt it. Actions not empty words and sanctimony.”
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten defended Mr Albanese, saying he had gone to Alice Springs “long before” he went to the tennis.
“I think a couple of Liberal commentators want to ping him for going to the tennis. I know Anthony was working every day,” Mr Shorten told Nine.
“He was as the Lunar New Year in Box Hill on Saturday and on Monday he was helping launch our national arts policy.
“So the guy works seven days a week. A photo of him eating an ice cream is neither here nor there to me.”
Mr Albanese’s visit to Alice Springs last week resulted in snap alcohol restrictions – with takeaway no longer allowed on Monday and Tuesday and trading hours reduced on other days.
It was the aim of both governments that reducing the availability of alcohol would reduce the high rates of crime and antisocial behaviour.
Mr Albanese appointed Dorelle Anderson to be Central Australian regional controller, with the aim of handing down a report this week on potential further restrictions.
She will consider a total alcohol ban, as well as moving to an “opt-out” model.
Assistant Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy on the weekend revealed the government had lobbied the NT government to revert to “opt-out” alcohol restrictions.