Backlash after Australian Prime Minister buys house worth A$4.3 million amid housing crisis
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under fire after buying a multi-million dollar clifftop home amid the national housing crisis.
Albanese bought months after the election with living costs and housing being the main issues.
The move sparked a backlash from across the political spectrum – with his opponents calling it “tone deaf” and some in his party anonymously telling local media that it That “surprised” them.
Albanese defended his decision, saying he “knows what it’s like to struggle” but bought the lavish property to be near fiancee Jodie Haydon’s family on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Property records show the four-bedroom, three-bathroom and three-car park property in Copacabana – which has panoramic views – has sold for A$4.3 million ($2.9 million) USA) last month, but the sale has not yet been resolved.
At a housing press conference on the day news of his new home broke, Albanese said he knew he was “better off” than many Australians due to his income but he could still agree empathize with their struggles.
“My mother lives in a public housing complex [home] that she was born during her 65 years,” he told reporters.
“I know what it’s like, that’s why I want to help all Australians get a roof over their head.”
Albanese’s Labor Party has established a A$10 billion investment fund for social and affordable housing. However, they have struggled to get other housing initiatives through parliament, partly due to a lack of support from Australia’s Green Party and some independents, who want The government introduced more ambitious policy proposals.
Research shows Australian cities rank among the worst in the world for housing affordability, with Sydney ranked just behind Hong Kong, according to Demographia’s 2024 International Housing Affordability survey.
About two-thirds of Australian households own a home, but according to parliamentary disclosures, about 95% of current federal politicians own at least one residential property. About a third own three or more.
While some of his colleagues supported Albanese, some broke ranks to anonymously criticize his decision as out of touch with the public.
“I can’t think of a greater act of self-destruction in my life,” one Labor MP told the Sydney Morning Herald – who redacted their names “so they can speak freely “.
They added: “If you are a Labor MP facing the Greens in the next election, good luck.”
Greens Housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said Albanese’s purchase highlighted the need to reform lucrative tax incentives for property investors and provide greater protection for renters.
“The Labor Party and the Liberals have created a housing system where a property investor can buy a beach house worth A$4.3 million,” Chandler-Mather writes on X. while millions of people cannot even find an affordable rental house, let alone buy a house of their own.” .
Liberal senator Jane Hume said “everyone has the right to a personal life” but questioned the “timing” of buying: “This is unacceptable in a housing crisis”, she told Channel 7’s Sunrise programme.
However, Opposition Leader and fellow Liberal Peter Dutton refused to criticize Albanese but noted many Australians were struggling with their own mortgages.
