Dan Andrews outraged at Margaret Court’s impending honour
Furious backlash has ensued after it was reported that controversial tennis legend Margaret Court will be receiving the country's highest honour on Australia Day.
Claims emerged on social media on Friday morning that Ms Court will be appointed the Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) for her sporting success.
A Melbourne broadcaster leaked the news on Twitter.
The names of those receiving the honour are not meant to be released until 10 pm on Monday.
Court has become a controversial figure as of late due to her outspoken views on homosexuality and conversion therapy.
Tennis Australia has faced repeated pressure to distance themselves from her, as well as a campaign to rename Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he "quite sick" of discussing Ms Court after being asked about the backlash to her ward during a press conference on Friday.
“I’m quite sick of talking about that person every summer,” he said.
“I do not support that but I don’t give out those gongs, that’s not a matter for me, that’s for others.’
Andrews stated Court's views were "disgraceful and hurtful", adding they "cost lives".
“Calling out bigotry is always important. This bigoted quackery costs lives.”
The premier then took to Twitter to reiterate his comments, saying Ms Court's sporting achievements don't give her the right to spew hatred.
“I don’t want to give this person’s disgraceful, bigoted views any oxygen,” he said.
“But when others insist on rewarding them with this country’s highest honour – I think it’s worth saying again: Grand Slam wins don’t give you some right to spew hatred and create division. Nothing does.”
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese also hit out at the award, claiming Ms Court has “already been honoured for her tennis prowess”.
“She’s already an Officer of the order of Australia,” he wrote
“I think it’s clear for everyone to see that making her a Companion of the Order of Australia has nothing to do with tennis.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison refused to comment on the situation when asked about the backlash during a press conference on Friday.
“I can’t comment on an award that’s done through an independent process that hasn’t been announced or I have no official knowledge of,” he said.
“This is a completely independent set of processes. It is an announcement that will be announced on that day. It is a system that recognises the full spectrum of individuals across this country.”