‘People cannot afford to put food on the table’: Labor MPs dumbfounded by Albanese’s clifftop purchase

State Labor MPs have slammed Anthony Albanese’s recent property purchase, labelling the timing of it as “stupid” and saying it shows his “lack of political and social understanding”.

Federal Labor is bracing for a polling backlash after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese splurged $4.3 million on a Copacabana clifftop mansion.

Multiple state Labor MPs were dumbfounded by Mr Albanese’s property purchase, slamming the move as “stupid timing” and a move which reeks of poor political judgment.

“It displays his lack of political and social understanding of what people, particularly in Western Sydney, are experiencing,” one MP said.

The MP criticised Mr Albanese for dropping more than $4 million on a retirement home when “people cannot afford to put food on the table”.

Another said the timing was “stupid”.

“It looks like he’s checked out and already thinking about what’s next,” the MP said.

Labor-aligned pollster Kos Samaras said Mr Albanese “telegraphed absolutely the wrong signal” to crucial voting groups.

State Labor MPs have slammed The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/ Steve Pohlner

“In a country where we are now all about which tribe you belong to, he’s just projected very clearly that the low income constituencies on which Labor relies are not part of his tribe,” he said.

Mr Samaras contrasted Mr Albanese with former Prime Minister John Howard who never went on overseas holidays or owned investment properties.

Labor sources believed the revelation Mr Albanese and his fiancee Jodie Haydon were planning to buy the multimillion-dollar mansion will hurt the party in “post-materialist” contests with the Greens.

Anthony Albanese is spending a whopping $4.3 million home on a cliff top home on NSW’ Central Coast. Picture: Realestate.com.au

Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather sought to capitalise on the PM’s purchase on Monday to push a campaign to scrap negative gearing.

“Labor & the Liberals have created a housing system where a property investor can buy a $4.3m beachfront home, while millions can’t even find an affordable rental, let alone buy a house of their own,” Mr Chandler-Mather posted on X.

Sources familiar with the polling industry said it is still too early for the Copacabana retirement home to be tested in focus groups or polling, but expect voters to be asked about the purchase soon.

Some Labor sources believe that those doing it tough, particularly in Western Sydney, will punish the government after the latest distraction.

Some Labor Ministers have jumped to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s defence.

Labor Ministers publicly raced to the defence of the PM on Tuesday.

“He is the Prime Minister but he is also a human being who is about to embark on a new marriage. He is entitled to purchase property,” Housing Minister Claire O’Neil told Sunrise.

“These are personal matters for the PM. My focus is on the housing needs of ordinary people and our bold and ambitious plan to get the housing needs addressed.”

Energy Minister Chris Bowen also defended his boss on ABC Radio.

“Every Australian is entitled to buy and sell property,” Mr Bowen said.

“I think most average Australians say: ‘fair enough, you know, this is what aspiration is about,’” he said.

Originally published as ‘People cannot afford to put food on the table’: Labor MPs dumbfounded by Albanese’s clifftop purchase