Nationals leader joins Labor figures to back PM’s luxury home purchase

Anthony Albanese’s Labor colleagues have rallied around the prime minister to defend his decision to buy a $4.3 million home on the NSW Central Coast, as outgoing Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said politicians “are allowed to live their life” and spend their own money.

After 2GB’s Ben Fordham broke the news on Tuesday, federal MPs privately expressed to this masthead their bafflement over Albanese’s purchase of the luxury clifftop home – located far from his inner-city electorate – just months before an election focused on housing affordability.

However, Wednesday morning was dominated by Labor colleagues appearing on radio and television to back Albanese’s decision. D’Ath said piling on Albanese for buying a property will deter people from entering politics, and disagreed his decision was tone deaf.

“He’s not using taxpayers’ dollars to [buy the house], and I know some people will say, ‘Oh he is because he gets paid by taxpayers’, well, you know, so do every other public servant, so do every business because the income is drawn from the public spending money in their business,” she told ABC Radio National.

“We’ve got to actually have some respect for members of parliament and acknowledge that they’re allowed to live their life. They’re allowed to use their own earning to purchase homes and yes, people are struggling, I’ve got tents all over my community, but the house I buy … is not going to change that.”

Outgoing Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath.Credit: Matt Dennien

Federal colleagues also backed the prime minister. Treasurer Jim Chalmers insisted Albanese’s total focus is on rolling out cost-of-living help.

“I see how focused he is on cost of living, on housing for more Australians, because those are the main issues that are putting pressure on people right now,” he told Ballarat radio station 3BA on Wednesday.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Housing Minister Clare O’Neil, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, and Social Services Amanda Rishworth also told radio and television outlets that Albanese’s decision to buy a home was a private matter and noted the prime minister and his fiancée Jodie Haydon were getting married soon.

Nationals leader David Littleproud also defended Albanese, saying the prime minister has every right to buy a house and set himself up for retirement.

“The prime minister has made smart decisions, and he shouldn’t be brought down for that,” Littleproud said.

Nationals leader David Littleproud defended the PM’s purchase of the house.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The Nationals’ leader and his wife list three properties on the register of interests.

“If we have sensible migration policies, we give hope to young people they can work hard, as I did, and was able to buy a home with my wife and buy a rental property,” he said.

Albanese batted away questions again on Wednesday when speaking to media in Tasmania, asserting he was focused on delivering more houses for Australians.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said on Tuesday he wished Albanese and Haydon well, noting that they were “obviously planning for the next stage of life post-politics”.

However, Coalition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume lashed Albanese on Wednesday morning for being out of touch.

Coalition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“I have a problem with the timing and this is tone-deaf during a housing crisis,” Hume told Seven’s Sunrise.

“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.”

Albanese’s new home was previously listed on Airbnb at $900 a night as the “epitome of luxury living” with four generously sized bedrooms and three modern bathrooms. From all three levels of the house, guests can “revel in the uninterrupted ocean and Sydney skyline views”, the listing said.

Guests are advised to “keep an eye out for pods of dolphins or migrating whales” while unwinding in the tranquil garden after a day spent on a nearby beach.

One review described the home as the best Airbnb house on the market and the photos were an understatement.

“Best way to explain this place is [to] imagine going to [an] amazing lookout and sleeping there! The house is massive with plenty of privacy, the view alone from the living and dining [room] … is phenomenal.”

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