Anthony Albanese has come under fire for his recent purchase of a $4.3 million waterfront mansion amid Australia’s housing crisis.
The Prime Minister is the proud new owner of the five-person home in Copacabana, on the NSW central coast.
Mr Albanese will share the clifftop home with his fiancée Jodie Haydon, whose family live in the area.
The Prime Minister was asked by a Sky News reporter on Tuesday morning whether he thought his new purchase “looked good” amid the cost of living crisis, during an announcement on policies to ease the housing crisis in Logan, Queensland.
‘Jodie and I are getting married. Jodie is a Coastie. She is a proud Coastie – there are three generations of Haydons there on the Coast 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 have a roof over their head. I am focused on increasing investment in social and social housing.”
The reporter pointed out that Mr. Albanese’s sprawling home with ocean views and cathedral-style rooftops was “very different” from the modest family home.
‘As Prime Minister I am much better off… as Prime Minister I earn a good income. I understand that I was lucky,” Mr Albanese said.
The Prime Minister is the proud new owner of the five-person home in Copacabana, on the NSW central coast
The house is located right on top of the cliff on a plot of land of 790 m² and is within walking distance of the beach
Mr Albanese was pressed by reporters on Tuesday morning about his new purchase
‘I also know what it’s like to struggle. My mother lived all her 65 years in the only public housing (apartment) in which she was born.
“I know what it’s like and that’s why I want to help all Australians into a home, whether it’s public housing, private rental housing, or homeownership.”
Mr Albanese said he planned to remain in his current job “for a very long period of time” when asked whether he would retire from the Copacabana grounds.
The clifftop house sits on a 790 sqm plot of land and is a short walk from the beach, with ocean views from almost every room in the house.
Mr. Albanese grew up in public housing and now has an impressive real estate portfolio.
His other properties include a three-bedroom townhouse in Dulwich Hill and a Federation House in Marrickville.
Albanese’s Copacabana purchase has fueled debate on social media, with some Australians pointing out that the Prime Minister bought his luxury properties during a severe housing shortage, with rents soaring and high interest rates hurting many mortgage holders.
Mr Albanese plans to live in the Copacabana estate with fiancée Jodie Haydon
However, opposition leader Peter Dutton did not directly criticize Albanese’s purchase during a media appearance. He wished the Prime Minister and Mrs Haydon well.
“They are clearly planning for the next phase of life, post-politics, and I wish them the best of luck in that,” he said.
‘It’s the homeowners in Australia that I worry about – people who can’t pay their mortgage.
Mr Dutton himself has an extensive property portfolio – with Daily Mail Australia values it at $4.5 million in 2022.
One observer said of Mr Albanese’s purchase online: ‘I don’t begrudge anyone who can afford to buy a house worth that much; what I do begrudge is the same person trying to tell the general population that he represents that he understands the pressure we are putting under. are under’.
“Nice to know he’s just a regular fighter,” another joked.
“Labor politicians are simply too rich and distant to understand the daily struggles of real Australians,” said a third.
‘It’s his money. He earned it legally and can do whatever he wants with it, just like the rest of us. This is still a free country,” said another.