Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shrugged off criticism and attended the nuptials of shock jock radio DJ Kyle Sandilands and his partner Tegan Kynaston.
The star-studded celebrity ‘wedding of the year’ took place in Darling Point in Sydney on Saturday, with guests including singer Guy Sebastian, TV presenter Karl Stefanovic and former NRL player Beau Ryan.
Earlier on Saturday Mr Albanese said he was going so he could witness the couple’s “expression of love”.
“I enjoy weddings and I’ll be going to the wedding,” the Prime Minister told reporters from Hobart on Saturday.
“I was invited in the context of Kyle saying how happy he was with Tegan, with this relationship of his, and with baby Otto coming along.
“Baby Otto as well is an expression of the love between Kyle and Tegan.
“That’s a good thing,” Mr Albanese said.
“I look forward to witnessing their expression of love between two people this afternoon.”
The radio personality is well known for his long friendship with Kings Cross nightclub baron John Ibrahim, who was in the wedding party, and convicted drug smuggler Simon Main was Sandilands’ best man, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The decision to attend the wedding was criticised by deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley, who said it was curious the prime minister felt he could take a day off work days before delivering the federal budget.
“Australians will rightly ask whether the prime minister should be spinning decks at a million dollar wedding when people can’t afford their rent,” Ms Ley said on Friday.
“It can’t be right that the PM is kicking back tomorrow while aged care residents are being kicked out of their homes because of his government’s failures.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns was also photographed arriving at the event.
News.com.au reports the lavish wedding, reported at $1 million, was held in a 56-bedroom mansion known as The Swifts — often referred to as Sydney Castle — and was decorated with $150,000 of white flowers.
A large marquee with crystal chandeliers was erected on site.
The outlet said Guy Sebastian sang Ray Charles’ Hallelujah I Love Her So as the newlyweds had their first dance.
-with AAP
