Prime Minister Scott Morrison says rugby player Israel Folau's latest social media attack on homosexuals was "terribly insensitive".
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Rugby Australia has vowed to terminate Folau's multi-million-dollar contract unless he can explain his social media attack, while the NRL has ruled out welcoming him back to the code.
Folau took to Instagram to proclaim hell awaits "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters".
"I thought they were terribly insensitive comments and obviously that was a matter for the ARU and they've taken that decision," Mr Morrison told ABC News on Friday.
"It is important that people act with love, care and compassion to their fellow citizens and to speak sensitively to their fellow Australians."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says rugby authorities have acted appropriately.
"There is no freedom to perpetuate hateful speech," he told reporters in Sydney.
"Some of the comments which have been seen are far closer to hateful than I think appropriate for what people should be doing on social media."
Mr Morrison also said boxer Anthony Mundine, who used social media to tell parents to do their own research on vaccines, was putting children at risk.
"We immunise our kids so there's a herd immunity that actually protects very vulnerable people in this country," he told Fox FM.
"I started that when I was social services minister - introducing the no-jab no-play rules that went into our childcare centres and preschools."
Australian Associated Press