Labor minister Anne Aly’s outfit detail sparks backlash during cost of living speech

A Labor MP’s choice of outfit while talking about the rising cost of living pressures has caused a stir, with some labelling the move “bonkers”.

Labor MP Anne Aly has come under fire for her choice of accessory while speaking in parliament about young Australians struggling with the cost of living crisis.

During Question Time on Thursday, the Western Australia MP and Early Childhood Education and Youth Minister was asked to explain what was being done to help young people and lessen the current economic pressures facing them.

“It’s fair to say all of us on this side know young people are doing it tough,” she said.

The member for Cowan added that while young people are facing many hardships right now, Tuesday’s budget “builds a strong foundation for a better future”.

“[For] those struggling to pay their power bills, we are providing responsible and meaningful energy bill relief,” Dr Aly said. “For a young person who turns 20 this year, for almost half their life – almost a decade – under [the] previous [government], young people were forgotten, at best ignored,” she said.

The Labor MP claimed many young people had lost faith in the government, but the Labor Party “wants to change that” and will continue to invest in and listen to young Australians.

But while Dr Aly was delivering her impassioned cost of living speech, there were some on the other side of politics who reportedly couldn’t help but notice she was wearing what looked like a very pricey designer belt.

Early Childhood Education and Youth Minister Anne Aly was rocking a Gucci belt and $1600 coat during Question Time on Thursday. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

She appeared to have paired her outfit with a black Gucci belt, which retails for a whopping $825.

The MP also appeared to be wearing a $1600 coat from clothing label ESSE.

A senior opposition source told Daily Mail it probably “isn’t the best look” for a Labor minister to be turning up to Question Time “in a belt which is worth more than some jobseekers’ cars”.

“While Australians are struggling to pay the rent, or afford groceries and power bills, they are confronted by a Gucci Government,” the source said.

“It makes you wonder what the heck happened to the supposed party of the ‘working class’.”

The signature belt is a favourite of Gucci lovers and, as a result, there are also many replica versions available to purchase.

News.com.au has contacted Dr Aly for comment.

Her accessory sparked some backlash given she was speaking about the cost of living crisis. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

This is not the first time Dr Aly has been seen sporting the luxury belt. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

There were some social media users who were also less than impressed by the outfit choice.

“Can you believe this! Anne Aly wore an $825 Gucci belt while giving a speech about the cost of living crisis impacting young people. And that’s just her belt! Imagine what her entire outfit cost,” one Twitter user said.

Another blasted Labor as “hypocritical and out of touch ”.

One person wrote: “You know what’s bonkers. Anne Aly wearing an $800 belt and talking about cost of living. You thieves live on another planet.”

Earlier this year in February, Dr Aly told ABC’s Q&A that nothing politicians say is going to make life easier for people struggling to buy food or meet home loan repayments.

Having known what it is like to live in poverty, she said she knew there was no sugar coating the fact that people were doing it tough and the Albanese Government was doing what it could to provide relief.

“I know it feels like empty words coming from a politician,” Dr Aly said.

“But take it from somebody who is a single mum, and who’s been through that as well and who’s lived in poverty, that I know that nothing we say is going to make it better for you.”

Young Aussies furious at being ‘left behind’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down their second budget on Tuesday night and, in doing so, stressed that Labor must prioritise vulnerable Australians in its bid to balance the books.

The Treasurer announced $14 billion in cost of living relief for struggling Aussies over the next year, while also planning to hand $69 billion back to some of the country’s wealthiest over the same period.

The latter comes from a Labor decision not to roll back Stage 3 tax cuts for the rich brought in by the Morrison Government – and supported by Labor – which means workers earning over $200,000 will get $9000 a year in tax relief.

That equates to an extra $173 a week for high-income earners.

In comparison, welfare recipients, such as those on Youth Allowance, JobSeeker and Austudy, will be getting an extra $20 a week from September 20.

There will also be a 15 per cent increase on maximum rates for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which translates to between $7.86 and $15.88 a week.

Many young Australians were left less than impressed by Labor’s offering and haven’t been shy voicing their anger.

Jamie, 25, from Tasmania, said the budget left her feeling “incredibly dejected” and “disappointed”.

She and her partner are both on JobSeeker and receive rent assistance. Jamie said, realistically, the minor increases being offered are “no help”.

“My partner and I are both on JobSeeker. We’re lucky to be in the place we are, but ONE of our pays barely covers our entire rent for the fortnight (with rent assistance),” she wrote on Twitter.

“We are among the ‘better off’, but we’re still immensely struggling.

“The ‘$20 a week increase’ does nothing. I feel so incredibly dejected. Disappointed. Alienated. Hopeless.”

Bailey Riley, president of the National Union of Students, the peak representative body for Australian higher education students, said young Aussies had been “left behind yet again”.

“Labor has delivered an extremely lacklustre budget that offers crumbs for young Australians,” she said.