Anthony Albanese has come under fire after mocking the cost of living crisis with an “embarrassing” parody of the “So Fresh” CD.
On Wednesday night, the Prime Minister used X to upload a photo of the cover of a CD titled ‘So Helpful’, which listed the measures his government had taken to address Australia’s devastating cost of living crisis.
The post was intended as a play on Australia’s hit compilation album series So Fresh, which until recently was released four times a year featuring hit songs from each season.
“New album just came out,” Albanese captioned the photo.
The rising inflation rate has forced many Australians to struggle to keep up with rising food, housing and energy costs.
So, unsurprisingly, some were not too impressed by the Prime Minister’s attempt at humour.
“You are making light of a situation that is currently happening in our country,” one fumed.
Another added: “Are you devastated or do you just hate Australians that much?”
Commentators were outraged at Albanese (pictured with fiancée Jodie Haydon) for “making light of” the cost of living crisis.
Commenters on Albanese’s ‘So Helpful’ album (pictured) called on him to ‘stop acting like a child’ and ‘get a grip on the inflation’.
A third wrote: “When will we have an adult government? Stop acting like a damn Albo child, if you had half a brain you would start with less public spending to control inflation.”
“It wasn’t a real challenge to be worse than the last,” said another, referring to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Others were stunned by Mr Albanese’s “juvenile” joke.
“Please grow up,” wrote one.
Another added: “I had to double check to make sure it wasn’t a parody account.”
A third wrote: ‘Fire your media team, Albo. Fire them now.’
Among the things Albanese listed as “very helpful” were “paid internships for students,” “increased rental assistance,” “$300 off electric bills” and “$3 billion in student debt eliminated.”
Albo’s post did not go down well with Australians on Wednesday night as the cost of living crisis worsens.
He Salvation Army Earlier this year, rising living costs combined with a “historically low rental vacancy rate” were described as a “social crisis.”
“According to government and research data, more than 3.3 million Australians, including more than 700,000 children, are currently living in poverty and 40 per cent of renters believe they will struggle to pay their rent in the next three months,” he said.
‘The current economic climate has led to a steady increase in the number of people facing hardship.
‘An alarming number of Australian families are feeling the pain of rising costs right now.
‘With the cost of food, energy bills and fuel rising dramatically over the past year, more than 40 per cent of Australian households have struggled to pay for basic household items in the past three months and more than half of Australians say they will struggle to pay an essential bill in the next three months.’
Earlier this year, the Salvation Army described rising living costs combined with “historically low rental rates” as a “social crisis.”