James Morrow: Life’s a beach for Albo: Savvy PM feathers his own nest

The optics, as they say in politics, aren’t great, particularly for a bloke seeking to renew his lease on the Lodge in the middle of a cost of living and housing crisis, writes James Morrow.

It used to be whispered about Anthony Albanese that he was really only good at one thing, and that was playing hardball in the world of NSW Labor factional politics.

But it turns out that was an unkind assessment.

In fact, he’s also a pretty savvy property market player – even savvier than we thought.

According to reports on Ben Fordham’s 2GB breakfast program, the prime minister – who just might have to find new digs if next year’s knife edge election falls the wrong way – has just bought a new house.

But not just any house.

Instead, the PM has reportedly exchanged contracts on a four bedroom, three bath, three level clifftop pile overlooking Copacabana Beach.

Albo’s $4.3million home on a cliff top home on NSW’s Central Coast.

The Prime Minister bought the multi-story ocean view house with his fiancee Jodie Haydon, whose family is from the region.

Which raises the question, is the prime minister getting his ducks in a row for a life after politics?

Because the optics, as they say in politics, aren’t great, particularly for a bloke seeking to renew his lease on the Lodge in the middle of a cost of living and housing crisis.

The man who once tearfully boasted that he “fights Tories” is, if the reports are correct, displaying the sort of “I’ve got mine, Jack” callousness he and his ilk always claim characterises the right.

While other Australians might spend their Saturdays queuing up for rental inspections or switching to Home Brand beans to make their mortgage interest payments, for our PM it’s a different story.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

According to the listing for the house, he and partner Jodie Haydon will be “enjoying one of the most commanding positions on the cliff top of Copacabana yet within easy walk of the beach, (in a) large architecturally designed home (with) uninterrupted ocean and Sydney Skyline views from all levels.”

“A premiere location to enjoy sun, whale watching or spectacular sunsets year-round,” it continues.

All that for just $4.3 million.

Bridge road, Camperdown, the home referred to by Anthony Albanese as the housing commission home he grew up in inner west

Pretty good for a boy from public housing (readers may not be aware that the prime minister grew up in Camperdown housing commission flats) whose whole career has been spent working a string of government jobs.

It’s a sure bet there are plenty of Australians who would love to know his secret, particularly those who themselves are struggling to put a roof over their heads … to say nothing of a second, third, or fourth.

Because while Anthony Albanese has done well to feather his own nest – sorry, nests – he’s not done so well for those in circumstances similar to those from which he came.

Originally published as James Morrow: Life’s a beach for Albo: Savvy PM feathers his own nest