Anthony Albanese responds to Scott Morrison’s ‘strange criticism’ of his weight loss

Anthony Albanese says the Prime Minister’s criticism of his weight loss is “strange” as he doubles down on being “match fit” for the election.

Anthony Albanese has hit back at Scott Morrison’s “strange criticism” of his weight loss, defending his decision to get fit in the lead-up to the federal election.

Mr Morrison has fired shots at the Opposition Leader’s 18kg weight loss and “new look” throughout this week and doubled down on his reiteration that he’s “not pretending to be anyone else”.

On Tuesday Mr Morrison said “I haven’t lost any weight, and I haven’t changed my glasses, and I’m still wearing the same suits”.

“(The) glasses you wear doesn’t make you a prime minister. It’s being able to make the decisions to support our Defence Force, it’s about being able to make the decisions to be sure we keep our economy strong,” he said.

Mr Albanese laughed off the Prime Minister’s criticism on Wednesday morning, saying losing weight had been a “good thing”.

The Opposition Leader has lost a significant amount of weight over the last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Anthony Albanese in 2015. On losing 18kg over the course of 2021, the Opposition Leader said he wanted to be ‘match fit to run the country’. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I would encourage people who are over 50, if you’re feeling a bit lethargic, do your best to lose weight,” he told the Nine Network.

“There’s no gimmicks, no operations, no crazy diets … I have been careful in my diet, I have been careful in terms of getting more exercise and getting fitter.

“I want to be match fit in order to run the country … It’s a busy life.”

Mr Albanese’s dramatic weight loss came about after a car accident at the beginning of last year in which he “could have lost” his life.

It prompted him to reassess his health, sparking five months of no alcohol and a reduction in his carbohydrate consumption.

Mr Albanese’s makeover was highlighted in a 60 Minutes segment on Sunday night but was the target of Mr Morrison’s criticism on Sky News on Monday.

“I’m not pretending to be anyone else. I’m still wearing the same glasses,” Mr Morrison told Paul Murray Live.

“Sadly, the same suits. I weigh about the same size and I don’t mind a bit of Italian cake. I’m not pretending to be anyone else.”

The Prime Minister made a veiled sledge at Mr Albanese earlier this week, saying he was ‘still wearing the same suits and glasses’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Mr Morrison’s criticism has come under fire, including from his own Deputy Prime Minister who on Tuesday said “don’t do it”.

“Don’t do it, people don’t like it,” Mr Joyce said.

“Because they listen through their own ears and think ‘what would happen if someone said this about me’?”

Environment Minister Sussan Ley on Wednesday morning described the Prime Minister’s comments as “cheeky”.

“I know with Scott Morrison what you see is what you get. I’ve seen the same person 20 years ago when I came into politics as I see now,” she told the Nine Network.

“He understands that the issue is substance, not image.”

Nine news political reporter Chris O’Keefe said Mr Morrison’s comments were a “low go”.

“Albo has lost 14 kilograms because he went on a health kick. Good luck to him. It’s called discipline. Isn’t that what you want in a prime minister?” O’Keefe said.

Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten suggested Mr Morrison’s comments were due to feeling threatened by the Opposition Leader.

“I remember Mr Morrison before the last federal election. You know what, he seemed to get a new pair of glasses and did his best at a makeover,” Mr Shorten said on Tuesday.

“I think the little green monster is sitting on Mr Morrison’s shoulder and he is jealous of Albo.”