Albanese rejects Hawaii holiday comparison as he defends beachfront home
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The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed comparisons between his decision to purchase a luxury beachfront house and predecessor Scott Morrison’s holiday in Hawaii during the bushfire crisis.
The context: Albanese’s decision to purchase the $4.3 million cliff-top property in Copacabana, an affluent suburb on the NSW Central Coast, made headlines on Tuesday.
Multiple Labor MPs have privately complained the purchase was not a good look politically months ahead of the federal election, given the cost of living and housing crises in Australia.
The ABC reported that one described it as Albanese's “Hawaii moment”, a reference to Scott Morrison's decision to holiday in Hawaii during the Black Summer bushfires, which damaged his popularity among voters.
Asked about that comparison in Hobart, Albanese insisted his focus was making housing more accessible for Australians including by passing the Help to Buy scheme, which is currently opposed by the Coalition and the Greens.
While most Coalition figures — including Peter Dutton and David Littleproud — have declined to criticise Albanese's purchase, finance spokesperson Jane Hume described it as “tone deaf” in a cost of living crisis.
Albanese said he had bought the house to prepare to live closer to the family of his fiance, Jodie Haydon. He says his aim is to spend more time on the Central Coast, where Haydon’s parents are still based, after leaving office.
The prime minister has stressed that he understands his income is far higher than most Australians but, having grown up in public housing, also understands “what it’s like to struggle”.
What they said: “I am focused on getting our Help to Buy legislation through, focused on ... making sure more Australians can buy their own home,” Albanese told reporters in Hobart.
The sources: Prime Minister press conference, The ABC
