Fans on the stands of the Australian Open tennis finals who loudly booed the country’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout were criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack on Monday.
“I don’t like booing at any event, and certainly any sporting event,” he told reporters.
“This vaccine is going to get our country back to some sort of pre-Covid normality.”
The booing happened during an awards ceremony after the men’s final, when a tennis official referred to global vaccine efforts as a sign of optimism.
Australia started its national inoculation programme on Monday.
Some cities saw anti-vaccination protests over the weekend.
On Saturday, small crowds of anti-vaccination demonstrators marched in cities, including Melbourne and Sydney, to protest against its rollout.
In Melbourne, where the Australian Open was held, the crowd also booed mention of the Victorian state government when Tennis Australia chief Jayne Hrdlicka thanked authorities.
READ: Hundreds take part in anti-vaccination protests in Australia, several arrested
Fans turned on Tennis Australia President Jayne Hrdlicka at the Australian Open, with unruly crowds booing her at the mention of the COVID-19 vaccine. #9News pic.twitter.com/GHJv7XQQZf
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) February 21, 2021