News that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has bought a cliffside mansion while many are struggling to put a roof over their heads has led to a bitter backlash.
Mr Albanese snapped up a $4.3million the five-bedder with stunning views of the ocean from every room in Copacabana, on NSW’s Central Coast, it was reported on Tuesday.
A number of people Aussies reacted to the Prime Minister buying such luxury new digs during a severe housing shortage with rents soaring and high interest rates hurting many mortgage holders.
‘I don’t begrudge a person who can afford to buy a house worth that much, what I do begrudge is that same person trying to tell the general population he represents that he understands the pressures we are under,’ one said.
‘Nice to know he’s just a regular battler,’ a second joked.
‘Have a nice life Albo, while the rest of us keep struggling,’ another said.
‘Labor politicians are simply to rich and to detached to understand real ns every day struggles,’ a third said.
‘All while us peasants struggle with this cost of living. Definitely not my preferred my prime minister,’ a forth declared.
Another called on Albo to rent out some of the rooms in the home, to help those struggling to find housing.
Some suggested Mr Albanese was already anticipating a loss in next year’s federal election.
‘Well he needs somewhere to live next March as he will not be in the Lodge,’ one person wrote.
‘Take advantage while you can Albo you will be replaced soon see ya,’ another stated.
A third joked: ‘With any luck Albo will have plenty of free time to enjoy the house after May next year’.
The Prime Minister had his defenders also.
‘I don’t like Mr Albanese’s political agenda and it’s an absolute disgrace that he continues to divide a nation but I believe that if we want to attract and keep the best politicians than we should reward them accordingly,’ one person argued.
‘So he bought an expensive home, so he gets a great retirement settlement, so what? Quite simply to get the best you must pay the best,’ a second added.
‘It’s his money, he earned it legally and can do with it what he wants, same as the rest of us. This is still a free country,’ another said.
‘Can’t believe all the dills having a go at Albo for his house purchase when nothing is said about Dutton’s massive fortune, far more than Albo,’ a forth declared.
‘Good on him, as long as he is not using public resources. His money, his choice,’ another said.
‘Both have accumulated their wealth legally and entitled to use it as they want. If you want to criticise people with money try the over paid CEOs in this country.’
Mr Albanese will share the home with his fiancee Jodie Haydon, whose family live in the area, 2GB’s Ben Fordham reported.
‘I’m about to get married to Jodie and start a new chapter of our lives,’ the PM told Fordham.
‘Jodie’s a Coastie and spending time with her up there is awesome. It will be nice to be closer to her parents and her family one day.’
The house also boasts a double garage and cathedral-style ceilings.
Having grown up in public housing, Mr Albanese now enjoys an impressive property portfolio.
The PM recently listed his three-bedroom townhouse in Dulwich Hill with a $1.9million guide.
The home was scheduled to go under the hammer on October 12 after it was purchased by the PM for $1.175million in 2015.
Mr Albanese had evicted his long-term tenant from the property in order to put it on the market.
But The Agency Inner West real estate agent Shad Hassan revealed this week that with no ‘firm commitment’ from an interested buyer, they decided to put an asking price on the home instead.
‘Albo and I decided that it’s best not to waste time, it’s definitely worth the money and we’ll be having people come take a look at it over the weekend if we put an asking price on it,’ he told realestate.com.
Mr Albanese also owns a mortgage-free federation bungalow in Marrickville, while he lives for free between Kirribilli House and The Lodge in Canberra.
That Marrickville home earns him between $1,300 and $1,400 every week in rent.
He also earns $564,356 a year as prime minister.