Earlier this week, Neil created a stir in Sydney when he criticised its lockout laws for “taking the guts out of the city”, adding: “I don’t really want to see Adelaide being a place to go for a good weekend.”

The star of Jurassic Park and Hunt for the Wilderpeople later clarified his comments on Twitter, stating he loved Adelaide and describing it as a “top place” … “but it’s a long way to go for a night out”.

In response to a local’s suggestion that he come to the city to experience its “thriving live music scene” and “world-class stadium”, Neil tweeted: “You’re on!”

That elicited the following response from Lord Mayor Haese:

I'd be more than happy to show you around @CityofAdelaide Sam. Let me know when you're in #Adelaide next. https://t.co/rYVrzSidDY

— Martin Haese (@MartinHaese) August 17, 2016

Following the reporting of the actor’s remarks on Monday, Haese had told InDaily that such comments were seen “now and then as our night life continues to thrive, while places like Sydney battle with over-regulation”.

Neill’s criticism of Sydney’s lockout laws – which were made at the announcement of a change in location for the Tropfest short film festival – sparked a strong response from the Australian Medical Association. It yesterday accused the owner of the Two Paddocks vineyard in New Zealand of “having a tantrum”, saying the laws had been a great success in terms of health and safety.

However, it was Neill’s comments about NSW’s greyhound racing that caused the bigger rumble on social media, with the actor forced to furiously rebut accusations that he supported animal cruelty. His latest Tweet on the subject reads:

Strange. I speak for reformed greyhound racing- a roar of hate & rage. I speak of horror- indefinite detention of people – hardly a murmur

— Sam Neill (@TwoPaddocks) August 16, 2016