Grace Tame, the 2021 Australian of the Year, caused a stir at the 2025 Australian of the Year morning tea with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday by wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words 'F*** Murdoch'. The 30-year-old advocate for survivors of sexual assault was greeted by a poker-faced Mr Albanese and his fiancée, Jodie Haydon, at The Lodge in Canberra.
Ms Tame has long been critical of how her story has been portrayed in the media, particularly News Corp. This week, she stepped down from her foundation and announced her appointment as a brand ambassador for Nike. Her appearance at the event comes three years after her infamous 'side-eye' meeting with then-PM Scott Morrison in 2022, which sparked a flood of memes and widespread discussion.
In 2022, Ms Tame remained stony-faced during photos with Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny, later addressing the snub on Twitter. She wrote that the survival of abuse culture 'is dependent on submissive smiles, self-defeating surrenders and hypocrisy', adding that her action was not an act of martyrdom in the gender culture war.
On Saturday, however, Ms Tame's interaction with Mr Albanese appeared warm, with her smiling and laughing as she mingled with the PM, other guests, and nominees. The winners of the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Canberra later on Saturday, with more than 30 finalists competing in categories including Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, and Australia's Local Hero.
