Liberal MP Simon Birmingham has asked the media to stop publishing photographs of Labor Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s new home, fearing it could put her safety at risk.
Last week’s news that Senator Wong and her partner Sophie Allouache spent $3.4 million on a 110-year-old, 1,350-square-metre four-bedroom bungalow in one of Adelaide’s most desirable suburbs created a furore in the media with many images showing the opulent property.
“Minister Wong and her wife have purchased a new family home,” the senator’s office confirmed.
“They are preparing to sell their current property and that of the minister’s mother, who passed away earlier this year.”
Senator Birmingham, shadow foreign minister and leader of the opposition in the Upper House, said this coverage was not “responsible”.
“I urge the media to remove all published images of Penny Wong’s new house,” he wrote.
‘High-profile politicians face real security considerations for themselves and their families.
“Responsible media must respect those safety considerations when reporting on these issues.”
Shadow Foreign Secretary Simon Birmingham (pictured left) and Foreign Secretary Penny Wong at an event in February.
Sentaor Wong married his long-time partner, Sophie Allouache, in his home state of South Australia in March.
The decision deeply divided Australians, with some thinking it was fairly fair.
“Surely it would be possible to legislate to prevent any publication of the private addresses of elected officials at all levels of government,” one of them said.
“When I saw the footage this morning I thought it was horrifying,” added a second.
Others thought it was an attempt by politicians to avoid attention from their expensive property purchases when many are struggling to get a roof over their heads.
‘What happens to parliamentarians who buy houses during a real estate crisis? Talk about not reading the room,” one said.
“Have you ever thought that maybe Australians are fed up with the hypocrisy – houses for me but not you while our economy is a dumpster fire?” added a second.
Political real estate purchases have been in the spotlight: two weeks ago it was revealed that Premier Anthony Albanese had purchased a $4.3 million clifftop property on the New Wales Central Coast. South.