Anthony Albanese’s failure to clear out protesters camping outside his constituency office has been denounced by radio presenter Ben Fordham, who suggested that leaders in the UK, US, Russia or China would not tolerate such a scene.
Mr Albanese’s constituency office in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west, has been deserted by the Prime Minister’s staff since January after a pro-Palestinian camp was set up outside it.
The opposition last night seized on a Daily Mail Australia report that Albanese had apologised to his own staff for protests at his office last December but had not called on authorities to clear the camp for the past seven months.
As senior Liberal and National MPs branded Albanese “weak”, 2GB presenter Fordham added fuel to the fire by asking whether the leaders of the US, UK, Russia or China would tolerate protesters blocking access to their offices.
“Do you think all those leaders would be sitting there and saying, ‘I’m going to stay away from my office all year long’?” Fordham asked.
“He has given up the front of his office to protesters, it has not been operational all year and that is what it is for: we are paying for it, we are paying for that office to be there.”
Daily Mail Australia can now reveal that Albanese’s office cost an estimated $138,000 to build in 2023, meaning taxpayers would have shelled out around $70,000 this year alone for space that hasn’t been used.
Premier Anthony Albanese (pictured) has been unable to use his office in Marrickville since January.
The outside of the Prime Minister’s office in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west, has been occupied by a pro-Palestine camp, preventing constituents from accessing the office.
Fordham said locals need access to the office to raise local concerns, but those who tried this year were either turned away or given a phone number to call.
One listener asked how the Prime Minister could stand up for the rights of Australians when he was unable to stand up for his own constituents.
This week, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister admitted to Daily Mail Australia that the current lockdown of his office was causing “disruption for vulnerable Australians seeking help”.
However, Albanese was unwilling to disband the demonstration, despite the fact that protesters had broken the law by placing signs on the taxpayer-funded election office and occupying property lines.
When Daily Mail Australia asked how such a situation could be allowed to happen, a spokesman for the prime minister said that “citizens in a democracy have the right to peacefully protest.”
The spokesman declined to explain why protesters were allowed to remain outside the prime minister’s office, even though attempts to do the same at Parliament House in Canberra last week resulted in serious action.
The demonstration in front of the Prime Minister’s office has been taking place since January.
Pictured: Signage on the front of Anthony Albanese’s office in Marrickville
Opposition Senate leader Simon Birmingham told Daily Mail Australia the prime minister must take action on the protesters: “Anthony Albanese must act on the threat posed by the Greens and extremists rather than coddle them.”
‘Protests are duly protected in a free speech society, but barricades and indefinite blockades are not.
“The Prime Minister’s constituents deserve access to their local MP like any other Australian. It’s time for Mr Albanese to stop seeking sympathy for his office closures and for the authorities to take action.”
Liberal MP Ted O’Brien said Albanese’s constituents deserved better.
“It is true that the electoral office staff do not deserve this, nor do the locals, but it is also a sad indictment of the Prime Minister’s authority or lack thereof,” he said.
Pro-Palestine protesters have prevented Albanese from using his own office (pictured)
Last week, pro-Palestinian protesters scaled the roof of the Australian Parliament. Their presence was not tolerated.
Leaving the situation unresolved for so long sends a message of weakness beyond the Prime Minister’s own electorate.
“I stand with the people of Grayndler.”
Deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley said: “Attacks on election offices are completely unacceptable and we need stronger action to stamp them out once and for all.
‘We stand ready to support stronger measures to stop these attacks so that election offices can reopen and carry out their important work.
“But this government appears to have lost its grip on social cohesion; we are seeing real pressures mounting; our war memorials are being desecrated, MPs are being attacked and our Parliament has been subjected to unacceptable displays of hatred and ignorance.”