News that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has bought a clifftop mansion as many struggle to put a roof over their heads has sparked bitter reactions.
Mr. Albanese picked up a ton of $4.3 millionThe five-bedroom with stunning ocean views from every room in Copacabana, on the NSW central coast, was reported on Tuesday.
A number of Aussies were reacting to the Prime Minister’s purchase of such luxury new-build homes during a severe housing shortage, with rents soaring and high interest rates hurting many mortgage holders.
“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 he represents that he understands the pressure we are under,” one person said.
“Nice to know he’s just a regular fighter,” a second joked.
“Have a nice life Albo, while the rest of us continue to struggle,” said another.
“Labor politicians are simply too rich and distant to understand the daily struggles of real Australians,” said a third.
‘And all this while we farmers are struggling with the costs of living. Definitely not my preference for my PM,” declared a fourth.
Another called on Albo to rent out some rooms in the house to help people struggling to find housing.
Some suggested Albanese was already expecting a loss in next year’s federal election.
“Well he needs a place to live in March because he won’t be at the Lodge,” one person wrote.
The clifftop house sits on 790 m² of land and is a short walk from the beach
“Take advantage while you can Albo, you will be replaced soon, see you soon,” said another.
A third joked: ‘With any luck, Albo will have plenty of free time to enjoy the house after May next year.’
The Prime Minister also had his defenders.
“I don’t like Mr Albanese’s political agenda and it is an absolute shame that he continues to divide a nation, but I believe that if we want to attract and retain the best politicians, we must reward them accordingly,” one person argued.
“So he bought an expensive house, so he’s going to have a great retirement plan, so what? To get the best you simply have to pay for the best,” added a second.
‘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.
“I can’t believe all this dill is targeting Albo for the purchase of his house while nothing is said about Dutton’s vast fortune, much more so than about Albo,” a fourth stated.
‘Good job, as long as he doesn’t use public funds. His money, his choice,” said another.
‘Both have acquired their wealth legally and have the right to use it as they wish. If you want to criticize people with money, try the overpaid CEOs in this country.”
Mr Albanese will share the house with his fiancée Jodie Haydon, whose family live nearby, 2GB’s Ben Fordham. reported.
“I’m about to marry Jodie and start a new chapter in our lives,” the Prime Minister told Fordham.
“Jodie is a Coastie and spending time with her up there is great. It will be nice to be closer to her parents and her family one day.”
The home also features a double garage and cathedral-style ceilings.
Mr. Albanese grew up in public housing and now has an impressive real estate portfolio.
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
The house offers ocean views from almost every room
Mr Albanese will share the house with fiancée Jodie Haydon, whose family live nearby
The Prime Minister recently listed his three-bedroom mansion in Dulwich Hill with a guide of $1.9 million.
The house was due to go under the hammer on October 12 after being bought by the Prime Minister in 2015 for $1.175 million.
Mr Albanese had evicted his long-term tenant from the property to put it on the market.
But estate agent Shad Hassan of Agency Inner West revealed this week that, with no ‘firm commitment’ from an interested buyer, they decided to put an asking price on the house instead.
“Albo and I decided it was best not to waste our time, it’s well worth the money and we’ll have people come and see it this weekend when we put an asking price on it,” he told realestate.com.
Mr Albanese also owns a mortgage-free federation bungalow in Marrickville, while living for free between Kirribilli House and The Lodge in Canberra.
That house in Marrickville earns him between $1,300 and $1,400 in rent every week.
He also earns $564,356 a year as prime minister.
Pictured is one of the five bedrooms in the Prime Minister’s house in Copacabana