Former Labor MP tells Anthony Albanese to ‘check his privilege’

This picture of Anthony Albanese and his mum is one that voters have seen many times, but a recent post from the Labor leader has caused some controversy.

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has never been shy when speaking about his past and growing up in public housing in Sydney’s inner west.

In fact, it has now become one of the major cornerstones of his election bid, with the Opposition leader telling his story as a way to show that he did not come from privilege and had to work to get to where he is.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the federal election for May 21, with both he and Mr Albanese now embarking on a marathon six-week campaign around the country.

Mr Albanese took the opportunity on Sunday afternoon to remind Australians about where he came from and how it has shaped his values.

Anthony Albanese and his mum Maryanne Ellery. Picture: Anthony Albanese/Twitter

“I am humbled to put myself forward as Prime Minister of our great nation,” he wrote above a photo of him and his mother Maryanne Ellery.

“I grew up in Sydney, in public housing, the son of a single mum. I learnt the value of a dollar. I learnt the importance of resilience.”

There are many Australians who identify with the Labor leader’s story, however, not everyone is impressed by Mr Albanese’s continual reminders of his living situation as a child.

Former Labor MP Emma Husar lashed out at Mr Albanese on Twitter, responding to the photo with his mum by telling him to “check your privilege”.

“A public housing Tennent (sic) is not a prerequisite for PM,” she said.

“Ensuring those who need can access public housing or any housing for that matter is.”

Ms Husar added that 49 per cent of marriages end in divorce.

“You’re not the first or last kid to be raised by a single parent. Check your privilege,” she wrote.

Former Labor MP Emma Husar hit back at Mr Albanese's post. Picture: Twitter

It appears some voters agree with Ms Husar’s view, with one person telling Mr Albanese to “get some new material”.

Others questioned why he wouldn’t commit to raising welfare payments “like the one your mum relied on above the poverty line”.

Another said: “Good luck but I hope you do something about housing because the housing security you had does not exist for many children today.”

However, there were also many social media users who thought Ms Husar’s criticism of Mr Albanese was in poor taste.

“Do you really think growing up in public housing is a marker of privilege?” one person asked.

Another branded her tweet “way out of line”.

One person added: “Nobody said it was a prerequisite. But it gives people hope that are in those positions they achieve what they put their mind to. Pathetically bitter revenge this is.”

Both Mr Albanese and Scott Morrison started off the first day of their election campaigns with a round of morning TV interviews, during which the Labor leader spoke more about his childhood.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese visits Launceston, Tasmania on his first stop of the federal election campaign. Picture: Toby Zerna

He told Nine’s Today show that “no one” gave him a leg up in life and he had to work hard to make it on his own.

“I am the son of a single mum who grew up in public housing. No-one gave me a leg up in life, but my mother wanted a better life for me than she endured, as an invalid pensioner,” he said. “That is a great Australian story.

“Aspiration to give our kids something better to, hand on a better standard of living.”

Mr Albanese’s Irish mother Maryanne Ellery met his Italian father Carlo Albanese on a cruise ship in the 1960s, but the couple did not stay together.

When Maryanne returned home to Sydney pregnant, with the child’s father half a world away, she knew that the road ahead would not be easy.

After having her baby, she told people that his father had died in a car crash during her pregnancy.

She took on Carlo’s last name and gave it to her son, Anthony.

Mr Albanese has continually praised his mother for everything she gave up so that he could have a better life.

“Life wasn’t easy. A lot of things were uncertain, but one thing wasn’t – Maryanne’s determination that her son’s life would be better than her own,” the Labor leader’s website states. “It was from Maryanne that Anthony learned the values of social justice and fairness.”