The Prime Minister and federal treasurer named the opposition leaders who discussed life arrangements ahead of the election “arrance.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused opposition leader Peter Dutton of saying he had chosen to turn his Kiribili home into his home if elected.
Kiribili House is the Prime Minister’s Office in Sydney and is considered the secondary residence of Australian leaders.
The main home and lodge are located in Canberra.
However, Dutton of Queen’s Lander distanced himself from Canberra, the expression “establishment” and when asked where he lived, he spoke about his attachment to Sydney.
“We live in Kiribili, we love Sydney, we love the port, and it’s a great city,” he told Kyle and Jackie O’Shaw on March 31.
“You can choose to live in Kiribili or Canberra or not. I think I’ll take Sydney any time above Canberra.”
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However, Albanese criticized the opposition leader’s decision and his willingness to win the election.
“I think it’s quite the hub-arrogant thing behind that comment… I’ll measure the curtains,” he told Nova FM.
“Of course, the Prime Minister’s residence is a lodge. It’s not Kiribiri.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers told the media he believes it reflects “arrance” to make speculations where Dutton might live if he wins.
He also said Dutton was “at home at the port mansion.”
“I think this election is very close. We don’t think it’s obvious, we work very hard with each vote,” Chalmers said.
WFH policy during fire
Labour also aims to Dutton’s working-from-home policy, with most civil servants required to be in the office five days a week.
Analyses of the policy by workers claim that employees will cost $5,000 a year through commuting and other expenses.
Coalition Finance spokeswoman Jane Hume has previously argued that many civil servants are working from home or on a trip, causing problems with scheduling meetings in the office.
Albanese says that working from home has many advantages for government workers and can also “overcome the tyranny of distance” in Australia.
“It also meant that it allowed them to work full-time for working families where both parents work, increasing workforce participation, especially for women,” he said.
