Signs of life at previously empty Anthony Albanese electorate office

While not in full operation, staff could be seen entering the Prime Minister’s Sydney electorate office, which has been closed due to the constant presence of pro-Palestine protesters.

Metal gates prevent entry to Anthony Albanese's electorate office but the lights are on. Picture: Noah Yim

There were renewed signs of life on Monday at Anthony Albanese’s Sydney electorate office, which previously had been closed for months because of ongoing pro-Palestine protests.

Staff could be seen walking around in the Marrickville office in Sydney’s inner west and at one point a staff member briefly opened a large metal gate to let a car enter.

Pro-Palestine protesters have been a constant presence this year outside the Prime Minister’s electorate office, which has not been used since January because of fears for the safety of staff, as The Australian reported last month.

This led Labor and the Coalition to unite and rebuke the Greens. Mr Albanese said everyday Australians were being denied access to democracy and that demonstrators were being whipped up by Greens MPs who had “consciously and deliber­ately spread” misinformation about the government’s position on the Gaza war.

Metal gates at the PM’s electorate office. Picture: Noah Yim

The signs of life at Mr Albanese’s electorate office were muted on Monday. Although the lights were on and staff members were walking around inside, metal gates prevented access to the front door. One person – apparently a Grayndler constituent – looking for a justice of the peace approached the office with a wad of documents and appeared to be redirected elsewhere over the phone.

One protester dutifully sat in a collapsible chair in front of a heavily adorned portico. Banners and Palestinian flags hung everywhere – off the office sign, on the bars of a metal gate to the office, on the columns – and on occasion the protester walked to the kerb and waved a large Palestinian flag. A passing car occasionally beeped in support.

Contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Mr Albanese said “staff continue to service the Grayndler community”.