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Tony Abbott Says He's A Fan Of Savage Garden

Frontman Darren Hayes has married his partner Richard Cullen three times to fight for marriage equality -- and is no fan of Abbott.
FAIRFAX / GETTY

Tony Abbott has continued his criticism of Macklemore's NRL Grand Final performance saying an Australian act that was "not going to be contentious" on the issue of same sex marriage should have performed.

During his chat with 2GB host Ray Hadley, the former Prime Minister declared that he was a fan of Savage Garden whose former frontman Darren Hayes has married his partner Richard Cullen three times to fight for marriage equality.

Last year, Hayes penned an open letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in which he criticised the Government's denial of equality to LGBTQ people and urged him not to waste money a plebiscite which would be nothing more than "an opinion poll".

"Like me Ray, you probably don't listen to any music from after 1975," Abbott said on Monday morning.

"Except for Travelling Wilberries and Savage Garden -- they were pretty good!"

Hayes was quick to respond to Abbott's comments.

Together with Daniel Jones, Hayes formed Savage Garden in 1993 and wrote multiple number-one singles such as 'I Want You', 'Truly Madly Deeply', 'To The Moon And Back', 'The Animal Song', and 'I Knew I Loved You'.

The duo won 10 ARIA awards for their debut album and sold 23 million albums in total.

The interview went on with Ray Hadley telling Abbott that John Farnham had been available for the Grand Final and that it was a shame that the NRL had searched overseas for a performer.

Abbott agreed.

"It's a very Australian sport. It's the ultimate Australian weekend, why do we need to import people?"

Hadley was caught up in some further NRL Grand Final controversy over the weekend when he aired a 'Same Love' parody song during his broadcasting of the match.

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