Shock as Penny Wong’s fierce political rival makes a desperate plea in her defence – so does he have a point?
Liberal MP Simon Birmingham has called on the media to stop publishing photos of Labor Foreign Secretary Penny Wong’s new home amid concerns it could jeopardize her safety.
Last week’s news that Senator Wong and her partner Sophie Allouache had spent $3.4 million on a 1,350 sq m, 110-year-old, four-bedroom bungalow in one of Adelaide’s most desirable suburbs caused a media frenzy with many images showing the opulent property.
“Minister Wong and her wife have purchased a new family home,” the senator’s office confirmed.
“They are preparing to sell their current properties and that of the minister’s mother, who passed away earlier this year.”
Senator Birmingham, shadow foreign secretary and opposition leader in the House of Lords, said this reporting was not ‘responsible’.
“I urge the media to remove all published images of Penny Wong’s new home,” he wrote.
“Popular politicians face real security concerns for themselves and their families.
“Responsible media must respect these safety considerations in any reporting on the issues.”
Shadow Foreign Secretary Simon Birmingham (pictured left) and Foreign Secretary Penny Wong at an event in February
Sentaor Wong married her long-time partner Sophie Allouache in her home state of South Australia in March
The call sharply divided Aussies, with some saying it was fair enough.
“It would certainly be possible to legislate to prevent any publication of the private addresses of elected officials at all levels of government,” one said.
“I felt horrible when I saw the footage this morning,” added a second.
Others thought it was an attempt by politicians to avoid attention from their expensive property purchases as many struggle to put a roof over their heads.
‘What about parliamentarians buying houses during a housing crisis? Talk about not reading the room,” someone said.
“Do you ever think Australians might have had enough of the hypocrisy – houses for me but not for you, while our economy is a dumpster fire,” a second added.
Political real estate purchases have come into the spotlight. Two weeks ago it was revealed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had purchased a $4.3 million clifftop estate on the NSW central coast.