Anthony Albanese has been grilled over his recent purchase of a $4.3million waterfront mansion amid Australia’s housing crisis.
The Prime Minister is the proud new owner of the five-bedder in Copacabana, on NSW’s Central Coast.
Mr Albanese will share the cliffside home with his fiancee Jodie Haydon, whose family live in the area.
The PM was was asked whether he thought his new purchase was a ‘good look’ amid the cost of living crisis by a Sky News reporter on Tuesday morning, during an announcement about policies to ease the housing crisis in Logan, Queensland.
‘Jodie and I are getting married. Jodie’s a Coastie. She’s a proud Coastie – there are three generations of Haydons on the coast there and when your relationship changes, your life changes and you make decisions,’ he replied.
‘But what I’m focused on is making sure everyone can get a roof over their head. I’m focused on increasing public housing and social housing investment.’
The reporter pointed out Mr Albanese’s sprawling house with ocean views and cathedral-style roofs was ‘very different’ to the modest family home.
‘I am much better off as prime minister … as prime minister I earn a good income. I understand I’ve been fortunate,’ Mr Albanese said.
The Prime Minister is the proud new owner of the five-bedder in Copacabana, on NSW ‘s Central Coast
The home sits right on top of the cliff on a 790sqm block of land and is just a walk away from the beach
Mr Albanese was pressed on his new purchase by reporters on Tuesday morning
‘I also know what it’s like to struggle. My mum lived in the one public housing (flat) that she was born in for all of her 65 years.’
Mr Albanese said he planned to be in his current job ‘for a very long period of time’ when asked if he would retire at the Copacabana property.
The clifftop home is on a 790sqm block of land and a short walk from the beach, with ocean views from nearly every room in the house.
Having grown up in public housing, Mr Albanese now enjoys an impressive property portfolio.
His other assets include a three-bedroom townhouse in Dulwich Hill and a Federation home in Marrickville.
Mr Albanese’s Copacabana purchase stirred up debate on social media, with a number of Aussies pointing out the PM was buying his luxury digs during a severe housing shortage, with rents soaring and high interest rates hurting many mortgage holders.
Mr Albanese plans to live in the Copacabana property with fiancee Jodie Haydon
However, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton did not directly criticise Mr Albanese’s purchase during a media appearance – wishing the PM and Ms Haydon well.
‘They’re obviously planning for the next stage of life, post politics, and I wish them well in that,’ he said.
‘It’s the home owners in Australia that I’m worried about – people who can’t afford their mortgages.
Mr Dutton himself has an extensive property portfolio – with Daily Mail Australia valuing it at $4.5million in 2022.
One observer said of Mr Albanese’s purchase online: ‘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’.
‘Nice to know he’s just a regular battler,’ another joked.
‘Labor politicians are simply too rich and too detached to understand real Australians’ everyday struggles,’ a third said.
‘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.
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