Prime Minister Albanese’s $4.3M property purchase sparks controversy
Ministers have leapt to the defence of the PM’s $4.3m coastal house purchase — but the shadow finance minister says the timing during a cost of living crisis is not in good taste. What do you think? DO OUR POLL
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has defended the Prime Minister’s purchase of a $4.3m luxury coastal house, saying he was about to ‘embark on a new life with his incredible fiancee’.
“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,” the minister said on Sunrise on Wednesday.
“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.”
On Tuesday morning 2GB’s Ben Fordham revealed the sale and claimed the PM exchanged contracts in September, with settlement expected before the end of October.
“I’m about to get married to Jodie and start a new chapter of our lives,” Mr Albanese told Fordham.
The PM’s purchase of the clifftop home at Copacabana on the Central Coast has ignited controversy, with critics raising concerns about the optics of acquiring a luxury property amid the ongoing housing crisis and widespread affordability issues.
Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume disagreed, saying the timing of this purchase was not in good taste.
“I have a problem with the timing and this is tone deaf during a housing crisis, Clare as the Housing Minister is the one being sent out to clean up this mess,” Hume said on Sunrise.
“She is right in saying everybody has a right to a personal life. No doubt about that. The Prime Minister has every right to make plans for his retirement but I think there are plenty of Australians and probably some of his colleagues that would like to see it happen sooner rather than later.”
The Australian reported that a Labor MP described the Prime Minister’s property purchase as “not a great look,” especially as Anthony Albanese faces a tough re-election battle, with his approval ratings slipping and Labor trailing the Coalition in this week’s Newspoll.
Pollster and former Labor strategist Kos Samaras told the publication that the purchase could reinforce existing public scepticism toward politicians, noting that many Sydney residents take decades to save for a house deposit.
“People think all politicians do this, that they have the capital and income to purchase such homes,” Samaras said.
However, he added that Albanese’s personal story of knowing what it’s like to struggle could still resonate with voters—provided he shows he’s not “pulling the ladder up after him.”
“You’ve got to show empathy, you’ve got to actually convince people you care,” Samaras said.
“At the moment, telling people about your background and convincing them you actually (care) … is a whole different ballgame.”
Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen clarified that Anthony Albanese did not seek his advice regarding the purchase of his $4.3 million coastal home.
When asked if the Prime Minister should have discussed the optics of the purchase with his colleagues, Bowen responded, “I don’t go and talk to the Prime Minister about, you know, my finances... He doesn’t come and talk to me about his, nor should he,” during an interview with ABC’s AM program.
“If he had, I would have said, mate, you do what you think is necessary for your family. With respect, he’s the Prime Minister. He’s also an Australian citizen, and I think the average Australian says, fair enough, leave him alone.”
Mr Bowen said “most average Australians say, fair enough”.
“We should be judged on our policies.”
Meanwhile, Labor MP Julian Hill defended the Prime Minister, stating Albanese remains “exactly the guy who I met 28 years ago,” despite criticisms over the property purchase.
Speaking to Sky News, Hill said Albanese’s humble beginnings, growing up in council housing, and highlighted that while he’s had a successful career in public service, he’s always remained grounded.
“He’s been frugal and he’s in a new relationship and has bought a house with his fiancée in the area of the coast, northern New South Wales, where three generations of her family grew up,” Hill added.
On the other hand, Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley pointed out that the criticism of Albanese’s purchase is coming from within his own party.
In an interview with Sky News, Ley stated, “It’s actually Labor members that are backgrounding against their own Prime Minister, and no one loves to hate like Labor.”
She added that the news of the home purchase followed what she described as a “horror week” for the Prime Minister, speculating that this timing may be leading his colleagues to suggest that he’s becoming out of touch with ordinary Australians.
The move comes after Mr Albanese last week pulled his investment property in Sydney’s inner west from going to auction after evicting his tenant following years of “half-market” rent.
The three-bedroom townhouse in Dulwich Hill was slated to go under the hammer at 11am, October 12 with a $1.9m guide after it was purchased by Mr Albanese for $1.175m in 2015.
Mr Albanese’s real estate agent Shad Hassan revealed that with no “firm commitment” from an interested buyer, they decided to instead put an asking price on the home.
Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@dailytelegraph.com.au
More Coverage
Originally published as Prime Minister Albanese’s $4.3M property purchase sparks controversy
Join the conversation
‘Vote Liberal, get Labor’: Critics slam council ‘coalition of chaos’
A newly elected Labor mayor – voted in with the Liberals’ support – has urged her colleagues to shed the “toxicity” that plagued the previous term. But critics have slammed the “unholy marriage”.
Read more
Chart reveals exactly where Sydney is falling behind
A new landmark report has revealed what Sydney needs to do to solve its housing crisis, and why it has fallen behind other global cities.
Read more