Anthony Albanese stirs controversy as Prime Minister ‘shakes it off’ at Taylor Swift concert

Anthony Albanese has sparked outrage after attending a Taylor Swift concert and private Katy Perry show while Aussies struggle with a cost of living crisis.

A post on X showed the Prime Minister at Friday night’s Taylor Swift show in Sydney, dancing awkwardly in between his son Nathan and fiancee Jodie Haydon.

The post, headlined ‘Great Job! Albo is a Swiftie, and Australians are getting poorer’ was followed by a litany of abuse for Mr Albanese.

Though, that didn’t put him off flying to Melbourne on Saturday to attend a private concert by Katy Perry at billionaire Anthony Pratt’s mansion.

The Prime Minister was among a crowd of around 200 of Australia’s business and political elites, with the notable absence of Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci, who pulled out after scrutiny of alleged price gouging.

One poster under the footage of Mr Albanese dancing at the Taylor Swift show commented on his ‘body language’.

‘He’s not comfortable, bouncing because the others are, then the guy next to him (his son, Nathan) is more subdued, as so does Ablo (sic) Our PM.

‘Concerned about how he is looking I wonder if he knows he’s being filmed?’

Others were more directly abusive, such as the poster who wrote: ‘Don’t even know how this guy got to pm. This guy is just there to have much fun as possible whilst he’s there and spend tax payers money.

‘What has he solved. He’s made life miserable for all Australians since he got there. Leave this country and live somewhere else and stop leeching from the people.’

Another added: ‘Australians are suffering price increases in supermarkets, energy, transport, etc… @AlboMP is on vacation.’

Mr Albanese defended his attendance at the Swift show in Sydney, telling Weekend Sunrise on Sunday that ‘at a time where there’s so much turmoil in the world, one of the reasons why Taylor Swift’s tour has been such a success is it’s so positive’.

‘It’s so uplifting, and that is her message … And she’s a very welcome visitor here. And her message of female empowerment is, I think, a positive one,’ he said.

‘And secondly, as well, it’s been pretty good for the economy as well. Good for jobs and good for economic activity. So, that’s always welcome as well.’

The Prime Minister also appeared on Weekend Today and praised Swift’s talents, saying ‘she’s a great songwriter. I think she’s a great lyricist’.

‘I think she’s in the genre of Joni Mitchell and people who’ve come before her in writing in ways that people can really relate to,’ he said.

When asked about going to the secret Perry show on Sunday, Mr Albanese said that was not his primary reason for attending the function at Mr Pratt’s mansion.

‘I gave a speech last night at the food and beverage annual dinner,’ he said.

‘Last year that was held in Sydney. This year was held here in Melbourne. It’s an annual event and it’s an opportunity to talk to manufacturers …

‘The good news that I got last night from many of the businesses was that they’re expanding their operations. That means more jobs here and it means our economy is more resilient here as well.’

Not all of the online commentary on Mr Albanese attending major pop concerts was negative, though.

One poster used it as an opportunity to attack the previous PM. ‘Scomo isn’t prime minister any more. We have a real one now,’ they wrote.