Huge question facing ‘weak’ Anthony Albanese over Marrickville electorate office stand-off – as we reveal how much YOU are paying for it to sit empty

Radio host Ben Fordham criticized Anthony Albanese’s failure to evict protesters camped outside his polling station, saying no other national leader would tolerate this.

Albanese’s electoral office in Marrickville, in Sydney’s west, has been deserted by the Prime Minister’s staff since January after a pro-Palestinian camp set up shop outside the office.

The opposition last night seized on Daily Mail Australia’s report that Mr Albanese had apologised to his staff in December last year for not being able to access his office. Seven months later, nothing has been done.

As leading Liberal and National Party MPs branded Mr Albanese “weak”, 2GB presenter Fordham added fuel to the fire by questioning whether the leaders of the US, UK, Russia and China would tolerate their offices being blocked by protesters for so long.

“Do you think all those leaders would sit down together and say, ‘I’m going to stay out of my office all year long’?” Fordham asked.

“He gave the front of his office to the protesters. It’s been out of commission for a year, and that’s what it’s there for. We pay for it, we pay for that office to be there.”

Daily Mail Australia can now reveal that Mr Albanese’s electoral office cost an estimated $138,000 in 2023. That means taxpayers will have to fork out around $70,000 this year alone for a space that has not been used.

The outside of the Prime Minister’s office in Marrickville, in Sydney’s west, has been occupied by a pro-Palestinian camp, preventing voters from reaching the office.

Fordham said residents need access to the office to voice local concerns. People who tried hard this year were either turned away or given a phone number to call.

One listener questioned how the Prime Minister could defend the rights of all Australians if he couldn’t even stand up for his own constituents.

This week, a spokesperson for the prime minister admitted to Daily Mail Australia that the ongoing blockade of his office was causing “disruption for vulnerable Australians seeking help”.

However, Mr Albanese refused to break up the demonstration, despite the fact that the protesters had broken the law by placing signs outside the taxpayer-funded polling station and squatting within the boundaries of the site.

When asked by Daily Mail Australia how such a situation could arise, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: “Citizens in a democracy have the right to protest peacefully.”

The spokesman would not say why the protesters were allowed to remain outside the prime minister’s office, even though attempts to do the same outside Parliament House in Canberra last week led to serious action.

Forcibly removing protesters from his polling station would be a politically sensitive issue for Mr Albanese, as most Labour voters – particularly the younger ones at risk of switching to the Greens – support the Palestinian cause.

The demonstration in front of the Prime Minister’s office has been going on since January

Pictured: Billboard for Anthony Albanese’s Marrickville office

Senate Opposition Leader Simon Birmingham told Daily Mail Australia the prime minister must confront the protesters: “Anthony Albanese must take action against the threat posed by the Greens and extremists rather than acquiesce.”

‘In a society of free speech, protests are rightly protected, but unlimited barricades and blockades are not.

“The Prime Minister’s constituents deserve access to their local MP, just like every other Australian. It’s time for Mr Albanese to stop seeking sympathy for the closure of his office and for the authorities to take action against these blockades.”

Liberal MP Ted O’Brien said Albanese’s voters – and his workers – deserved better.

“It is true that the polling station staff do not deserve this, and neither do the local people, but it is also a sad indictment of the prime minister’s authority, or lack thereof,” he said.

Pro-Palestine protesters have prevented Mr Albanese from using his own office (pictured)

Pro-Palestinian protesters climbed onto the roof of the Australian parliament last week. Their presence was not tolerated.

‘By leaving the situation unresolved for so long, the Prime Minister is sending a signal of weakness that extends beyond the Prime Minister’s own voters.

“I stand with the people of Grayndler.”

Deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley said: “Targeting constituencies is completely unacceptable and we need stronger measures to eradicate it once and for all.”

“We stand ready to support stronger measures to stop these attacks so that polling stations can reopen to do their important work.

‘But it feels like this government has lost control of social cohesion. We see the pressure mounting: our war memorials are being defaced, MPs are being attacked and our parliament is being targeted by unacceptable expressions of hatred and ignorance.’