Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese made an unscheduled appearance at Bluesfest on Sunday and received a very mixed response from punters.
Turns out that maybe a visit to Bluesfest wasn’t a great idea for Albo – or was it?
Apart from mingling with the Bluesfest crowds, Albo also took to the Mojo Bluesfest stage just after 8pm to introduce Jimmy Barnes on Sunday.
There was some cheering and some booing but Albo soldiered on.
A damage control press relases was circulated on Monday afternoon saying that the rock legend’s son wanted to set the record straight on Albanese’s appearance at Byron Bay.
Barnes’ son, David Campbell said he had spoken to his father following the often negative reporting of the event and subsequent social media commentary.
Mr Campbell reportedly said that Albanese was definitely a guest of the event and most certainly NOT a gatecrasher.
‘Albo was invited and welcomed because he has an Arts policy which aligns with what my dad thinks the entertainment sector of this country needs,’ Mr Campbell said on Twitter.
A press release said that Mr Albanese received boos from some members of a raucous crowd on Sunday night after the MC mentioned the federal election and introduced him to the stage, where he welcomed Mr Barnes’ act. Other guests cheered and the cheers grew louder as Mr Albanese spoke on stage about Labor’s arts policy and its commitment to an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
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