Today show viewers have slammed Channel Nine for sending the show’s hosts to broadcast live from Dubai amid the devastating NSW floods.
The breakfast program’s hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo are currently staying at the Atlantis The Royal hotel in The Palm Jumeirah.
The five-star accommodation starts from $1,400 for a weeknight and $1,600 for a weekend night.
However, many have criticised Nine for making the decision to broadcast the show in the luxurious city while deadly floods continue to lash parts of NSW, resulting in five deaths and damaging up to 10,000 properties.
‘Just want relay my disappointment how can the Today show promote a $20k suite in Dubai, when we have a cost of living crisis in and over 30,000 people cut off in NSW from the floods? Seriously?’ one person wrote on social media.
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Today show viewers have slammed Channel Nine for sending the show’s hosts to broadcast live from Dubai amid the record-breaking NSW floods. Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo are currently staying at the Atlantis The Royal hotel in The Palm Jumeirah
However, many have criticised Nine for making the decision to broadcast the show in the luxurious city while deadly floods continue to lash parts of NSW, resulting in five deaths and damaging up to 10,000 properties. Pictured, Karl, Sarah and chef Ali El Bourji
‘And which viewer at home can afford $1000 a night to stay there. They are so out of touch,’ another said.
‘There’s a disconnect between the show going and the viewers caring at home. It might get some tourist interest/return for Dubai as a result but it’s not a viewer first initiative,’ a third commented.
‘[Not] a good idea when you have a flooding disaster in , but the hosts are reporting from overseas on a luxury trip,’ another wrote.
Karl, Sarah and other presenters on the Today Show, including Richard Wilkins, jetted to the United Arab Emirates on Friday.
Karl is also joined by his wife Jasmine and their five-year-old daughter Harper who have been enjoying the holiday.
Jasmine has been showing off their luxurious hotel on Instagram by regularly posting photos with her followers.
It comes as more than 32,000 people remain isolated by floodwaters and about 400 properties have been deemed inhabitable or destroyed, according to the NSW State Emergency Service.
More rain and strong winds are expected to impact recovery efforts with a risk of landslides and toppling trees in the coming days.
Richard Wilkins (left) and Tim Davies (right) are also abroad enjoying all the highlights of the hotel
Karl is joined by his wife Jasmine and their five-year-old daughter Harper who have been enjoying the holiday
Jasmine has been showing off their luxurious hotel on Instagram by regularly posting photos with her followers
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Jonathan How from the Bureau of Meteorology said strong winds coming through on Monday and Tuesday could hamper recovery efforts.
‘We’re talking about winds of 60-80km/h, which could cause a lot of damage for a lot of trees coming down,’ he said.
Premier Chris Minns visited Taree and said the state government wants to help the community get back on its feet as soon as possible.
Hardship and disaster grants are planned to become available in the coming days and efforts to improve flood resilience in Taree and other communities will follow.
But previous attempts, while well-intentioned, had not always delivered in areas hit by flooding.
‘We’re determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past, given we’re having more and more of these natural disasters,’ Minns said.