Court, a one-time tennis great turned Christian minister, has said the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Australia raised alarming issues for Australia, controversially describing homosexuality as "all the devil" in 2017. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Loading Wintour, who is in Australia for the first time, also expressed her views on Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and notably his previous ambiguity regarding proposals to amend the Sex Discrimination Act such as to allow religious schools to expel LGBT students. (Morrison has since said schools should not be able to discriminate against students based on sexuality.) “I have been alarmed by your prime minister’s record on LGBTQ rights, which seems backward in all senses," she said.

Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: "That no one can be expelled from school for their orientation, should not require clarification. A government should protect its people, not make it unclear whether they will be accepted.” The fashion powerhouse, who has been editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988, said it was up to leaders of all stripes to enact change. “I have been most inspired over the past year by women, by people of colour and young people being bold, standing up, telling their stories and outlining paths to towards a different future,” she said. “It is always better to engage than to step back. We can move forward and together, or backward in division. Tennis gives us a clue, I think, which of these is a better game.

“It is time to turn a page forward from the prejudices of the past.” Guests present for Wintour's speech included director Baz Luhrmann, MP Julie Bishop, designer Carla Zampatti and media identity Ita Buttrose. Loading In a wide-ranging address, during which Wintour removed her trademark Chanel sunglasses, she also spoke about her love of tennis and the warm welcome she’d received in Australia. “I have never felt so welcomed anywhere in my life ... It is ‘no problem’, everyone keeps saying, ‘no problem at all’," she said.

"Coming from New York, where everybody talks of problems all the time, and subsists on problems as they do on coffee and noise ... I find this smooth sailing quite disconcerting.” She went on to later praise Australians for their support of women in sport. “I have admired the way you support your women, especially in sport. It’s clear why this is the home of Stephanie Gilmore, Samantha Kerr and Evonne Goolagong. And why those women have done so much work beyond training to use their platforms to bring about good.” During a Q&A with Luhrmann and SBS journalist Janice Petersen after the speech, Wintour, who openly supported Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, said she was hopeful for a change of US government at the next election. Anna Wintour (left), Janice Petersen (centre) and director Baz Luhrmann during a Q&A at the 2019 Australian Open Inspirational Series Brunch in Melbourne on Thursday January 24, 2019. Credit:AAP

“There is a sense that what we currently have in the White House is completely unacceptable. We believe that in 2020 there will be change,” she said, again to applause. Asked whether she would back a particular candidate, Wintour replied: “I’m going for the person who will beat President Trump.” Conversation on the red carpet before the event was more lighthearted, with Wintour was asked who she would like to play her in a biopic of her life. Possibly settling debate about whether Meryl Streep's infamous fashion magazine editor character Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada was based on Wintour (which actress Emily Blunt recently denied) she said: “Actually there has been [a movie] .. I don’t see how you can do better than Meryl Streep.” Baz Luhrmann (left), Anna Wintour (centre) and Australian federal politician Julie Bishop (right) react at the 2019 Australian Open Inspirational Series Brunch in Melbourne, on Thursday January 24, 2019. Credit:AAP