The curious case of Anthony Albanese’s shuttered electorate office

These days, the mean streets of Marrickville lack the grit of decades past. But, according to an article published in The Australian on Wednesday, Marrickville is no longer a safe space for staff of the suburb’s most famous resident, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The presence of pro-Palestinian protesters camped outside the prime minister’s electorate office for months on end had, according to The Oz, forced staff to abandon the site out of safety concerns from January this year. But like many things printed in the national broadsheet, this wasn’t entirely true. One of our colleagues visited the office in April and was let in by staff who confirmed it was still operational.

Now, usually, the prime minister’s office is quick to hose down any errors in the media. Not so this time. Eventually, it confirmed to the Herald that the office had been closed – but only two weeks ago. That is about the time the government started escalating its attack on the Greens Political Party (as True Believers call it) over perceived support for demonstrators who have been making a nuisance outside the offices of several senior Labor figures.

In this context, the lack of a swift denial appeared just a little convenient. We also asked The Australian for a please explain, and didn’t hear back.

Perhaps we should’ve put it to News Corp boss Michael Miller when he showed up at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday to have a crack at social media giants. Miller copped some curly questions from journalists about the empire’s alleged bullying of women and perceptions that some of the papers’ coverage of migration might be a bit racist.

Miller got a friendlier reception from fellow media bosses, particularly from Seven West Media, who bought a table. The Kerry Stokes-controlled company’s new chief executive Jeff Howard and director of news and current affairs Anthony De Ceglie exchanged plenty of firm blokey handshakes with Miller after question time.

ROYAL FLUSH

We can’t think of too many local unions, or even industry associations for that matter, who’ve managed to get a seal of approval from King Charles III, no less.

But the Australian Medical Association, who don’t like it too much when you call them the doctors’ union, are an exception. Last month, the AMA, whose relevance has plummeted since people stopped being scared of COVID, was awarded royal patronage by King Charles III, effectively meaning that Buckingham Palace can give them a good PR boost.

But the AMA didn’t seem particularly thrilled about it, dropping a few short paragraphs on its website, where president Steve Robson noted that it was a proud achievement “regardless of where one stands on the republican issue in Australia”. It was also careful to confirm, via the trade press, that it had no say in getting the royal seal of approval.

King Charles gives the AMA his support.Credit: John Shakespeare

But we reckon the doctors’ union should be proud. The organisation was first given royal patronage by Queen Elizabeth II in 1964. When Charles took the throne, he promised a review of organisations given patronage. And while more than 100 were culled, the AMA made the, ahem, cut. Not bad for a body that just represents about 30 per cent of doctors in a distant colony.

AWKWARD PAIRING

The NSW Liberal opposition reckon they’re onto some good gear by accusing Chris Minns of being a “part-time premier” over his frequent requests for a pair – where parties will arrange for a member on each side to miss a vote, so one of them can be absent.

It all kicked off in March when the premier was spotted at a UTS Labor drinks bash after being granted a pair. He was paired off again on Tuesday afternoon and according to CBD’s quick number crunching, of the 16 sitting days this calendar year, there have been just seven where Minns hasn’t been granted a pair.

Minns’ office didn’t comment but, then again, he is the premier and has a far more demanding schedule of extracurricular events, speeches and ribbon-cuttings than your average MP. And he’s had to take time off to be with family following the death of his father this year – no one can quibble with that.

AT HOME WITH JULIA

While most politicians are so self-obsessed they have Google alerts to ping themselves about any media mentions, not so Julia Gillard.

Not only has PM27 not seen Julia, the well-reviewed play about her life and times, but she hasn’t even rewatched her famous 2012 misogyny speech which forms the core of the play and catapulted her to global fame.

At least, that was the buzz at the Melbourne Theatre Company’s soirée for the Melbourne premiere of the play, basically a one-woman show starring Justine Clarke, whose mimicry of both Gillard and Tony Abbott (surprise!) had politicos in raptures and charmed audiences during its Sydney and Canberra runs.

That’s a sharp contrast to another former Labor leader, Paul Keating, who couldn’t get enough of Keating! The Musical, attending the singalong version of his prime ministership multiple times.