SYDNEY – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being forced to find a new electorate office after the landlord of his long-standing Marrickville premises discontinued the lease, citing significant and ongoing disruptions caused by months of persistent pro-Palestine demonstrations.
- The Prime Minister’s office has confirmed it is searching for a new site for the Grayndler electorate office, stating the current situation had become untenable for staff, constituents, and neighbouring tenants.
- Protest organisers remain defiant, vowing to continue their demonstrations at any new location to maintain pressure on the government over its foreign policy in the Middle East.
- The move has ignited a debate on the limits of political protest, with local business groups condemning the disruption while civil liberties advocates defend the right to demonstrate.
The Prime Minister’s electorate office, a fixture on Marrickville Road for over a decade, has been the site of near-weekly protests, with demonstrators accusing the government of not taking a strong enough stance against Israeli military action in Gaza.
In a statement released on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister confirmed the impending move.
“The Department of Finance, which manages electorate office leases, has been advised that the current lease will not be renewed,” the statement read. “Disruptions and safety concerns caused by ongoing protests have made the current location untenable for staff, for constituents seeking assistance, and for neighbouring businesses. The priority is to secure a new site within the electorate that is safe and accessible for all, and to ensure continuity of service for the people of Grayndler.”
The decision by the building’s owner comes after months of complaints from other tenants who reported that the frequent and often loud demonstrations had impacted their operations, with customers reportedly avoiding the area.
Organisers of the protests have framed the outcome as a consequence of the government’s own policies and have pledged that the relocation of the office will not deter their campaign.
“This is not a victory for us; it’s a reflection of the government’s refusal to listen to the will of the people,” said a spokesperson for Palestine Action Group Sydney. “An office is just a building. Our message will follow the Prime Minister wherever he goes. We will continue to protest peacefully and vocally to demand that the Australian government ends its complicity and calls for a true and lasting peace with justice for Palestinians.”
The situation has drawn sharp criticism from local business advocates, who argue that while the right to protest is fundamental, it should not come at the cost of livelihoods.
“Small businesses in the area have been doing it tough, and this has been the last thing they needed,” said a representative for the Marrickville Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve had reports of decreased foot traffic and staff feeling intimidated. This outcome is unfortunate for everyone and highlights the collateral damage these kinds of sustained protests can cause.”
The federal Opposition seized on the news, with Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson labelling the situation “a complete failure of leadership.”
“The Prime Minister of Australia has effectively been forced out of his own electorate office by extremist protesters,” Senator Paterson said. “If the Prime Minister cannot guarantee a safe environment for his own staff and constituents, it shows he is incapable of standing up to the radical activists causing chaos on our streets.”
The government is now faced with the difficult task of finding a new landlord willing to take on a lease in the knowledge that the premises will likely become an immediate and ongoing target for demonstrations.