Anthony Albanese denied drinking a $500-a-bottle glass of wine during a recent vacation, despite a winery employee saying he showed “great interest” in the pricey vintage.
The Prime Minister reportedly tasted the 2017 Cullen Vanya Flower Day Cabernet Sauvignon when he and partner Jodie Haydon visited Margaret River winery Cullen Wines while on holiday in Washington earlier this month.
However, speaking to Sydney radio station 2GB on Christmas Day, Mr Albanese denied that he and Ms Haydon were given 'special treatment' and had drank the same wine as other visitors to the winery.
“We paid our own way, flew commercial, stayed somewhere, went to Coles on the way and picked up stuff for lunch… and we went wine tasting like everyone else does,” Mr Albanese said.
Cullen Wines posted on Facebook a selfie taken by Mr Albanese of himself and Ms Haydon at the winery.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured left) at Cullen Wines in Western Australia with partner Jodie Haydon (centre)
An employee of Cullens Wines wrote on their social media that Mr Albanese enjoyed an 'exclusive seated tasting'.
“The Prime Minister really enjoyed spending time in Margaret River and has a great appreciation for the wines of this region and Wilyabrup in particular,” they said.
According to the staff member, Mr. Albanese said he had tried Cullen Wines before and expressed great interest in $500 per bottle of 2017 Vanya flower day Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Prime Minister was also particularly taken with the Legacy Series Chardonnays, as well as the current and older vintages of Bordeaux blend Diana Madeline.
“All the wines, with their attributes and backstories, put a big smile on their faces,” the post said.
Mr Albanese was criticized for his expensive wine tastes in the context of many Australians struggling to afford basic necessities as prices and mortgage costs rose sharply this year.
“Every Australian deserves a decent holiday, (but) we wonder if our Prime Minister has lost touch with the struggles of everyday Australians,” WA Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash said. The West.
“Many Australians are struggling with even the basics this Christmas, let alone tasting expensive bottles of wine.”
Mr Albanese and partner Ms Haydon step off the plane after arriving at Torrejon air base for the NATO leaders' summit in Madrid, Spain, in June, forcing the Prime Minister to play down the amount of travel he has done this year
During a wide-ranging interview, the Prime Minister praised his government's efforts to ease the cost of living and also revealed the gifts he and Mrs Haydon had exchanged.
Mr Albanese said he gave Ms Haydon jewelery for Christmas, while she gave him a gift of a telescope that could be programmed to automatically find stars, some records and a Cold Chisel box set.
Cold Chisel singer Jimmy Barnes recently underwent open heart surgery after his life was endangered by a bacterial infection. Mr Albanese said he texted the iconic rocker during his hospital stay.
Because it has yet to be handed over, the Prime Minister does not want to reveal what he is giving his son Nathan.
As he did in a post at the end of the political year on his social media, Albanese highlighted the measures Labor had taken to ease the burden on households struggling to keep up with rising prices and mortgage payments.
“I think the work we've done with the $23 billion has gone toward cost-of-living relief. So cheaper childcare, cheaper medicine so people get emergency care,” Mr Albanese said.
However, Mr Albanese acknowledged that many households were struggling to make ends meet, as he blamed rising prices on global inflation.
He also said floods and forest fires were devastating some parts of the country.
'This is a festive time. But it will be a very difficult time for many Australians,” she said.
“And it has been a time when we have seen the best of Australian character, which always shines through in the most difficult of circumstances.”
Albanese has also been at pains to downplay the amount of travel he has done since leaving office, which has earned him the unflattering nickname Airbus Albo in some quarters.
Despite organizing the referendum and campaigning heavily for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which was rejected by more than 60 percent of voters, Albanese said it was not a loss for him personally or for his government.
“I'm not native so it wasn't a loss for me, that stays exactly as it is,” Mr Albanese said.
“I think it was disappointing for the First Nations people, but they're used to… hardship.
“That's been the case for 200 years, and they are resilient and we will continue to do what we can to close the gap.
'It's one of the things about this debate. It was never about politicians, it was actually about the most disadvantaged people in our society.'
Mr Albanese spent part of Christmas Day distributing meals at the Exodus Foundation in the western Sydney suburb of Ashfield.
Anthony Albanese and his girlfriend Jodie Haydon (pictured) spent their Christmas Day serving lunch to vulnerable Australians
The Prime Minister joined NSW Premier Chris Minns and dozens of other volunteers at the Exodus Foundation food charity event in western Sydney on Monday.
The Prime Minister said: 'This is a great event that I have been attending for 20 years and it is incredibly uplifting.'
Mr Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns thanked employees and volunteers who were still working over Christmas.
“A special shout out to all emergency services personnel, police, volunteers, our Australian Defense Force personnel, whether they are serving Australia here or overseas,” Mr Albanese said.
Mr Albanese was asked about the pro-Palestinian protesters who stormed the stage and disrupted the national Christmas Eve tradition of Melbourne Carols by Candlelight.
He did not condemn the actions, but emphasized that Australia's social cohesion is “absolutely crucial”.
“We speak of the unity we have built in this great country where people from different faiths and different parts of the world have come to make Australia their home,” Mr Albanese said.
“It's important that we are nurtured and nourished and that we don't try to sow division.”