An Australian bar is being criticised for using naked women as fruit platters at a launch party in Sydney Wednesday night.

Women wearing only skin-coloured underpants and with their bodies adorned in a variety of fruit became the centrepiece on tables at the relaunch party at Cruise Bar in Darling Harbour. Photographs of the naked figures quickly drew ire from social media commentators.

Happy launch of Cruise Bar... Hmm... A photo posted by Valentina Stojanovska (@valentinastojx) on Aug 26, 2015 at 2:54am PDT

Tonight, before I started work, I needed to dress a girls breasts in bananas. #cruisebar #sydney pic.twitter.com/lApC5P9Lz6 — Kate Peck (@KatePeckme) August 26, 2015

The secretary of the Greens political party in New South Wales, Jane Oakley, wrote on Facebook, in response to a photo of the event: "Thanks Cruise Bar for so openly showing your contempt for women and contributing to the disgusting view that women's bodies are just a utensil. I won't be coming to your venue when I'm looking for a night out."

The view was supported by veteran journalist Tracy Spicer and University of Newcastle academic Melanie James.

On Twitter, Spicer wrote: "Gee. Cruise Bar, the 1970s called...", while James asked "Obviously good for publicity but at what cost?"

This is the display tonight at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal Cruise Bar - unacceptable. #destroythejoint pic.twitter.com/aasWBgSQO2 — Melanie James (@melanie_james) August 26, 2015

A couple of people voiced their opinions that the incident was not sexist, due to the fact men were also strutting around the venue half naked.

I somehow totally missed the naked-ladies-on-the-table at #CruiseBarSydney last night. But I sure didn't miss the buff gents in speedos... — Elias Jahshan (@Elias_Jahshan) August 26, 2015

Cruise Bar did not return Mashable's multiple requests for comment.