Hardworking Australians have reacted negatively to the irritated attitude of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who interrupted his five-day holiday with a press conference. However, he did manage to enjoy at least one night out with his fiancée during his holiday.
In photos shared to Instagram on Sunday, Mr Albanese looks relaxed and happy with his fiancée Jodie Haydon as they pose with the owners and staff of the El Greko Greek Taverna in Palm Cove in far north Queensland.
“A very special guest came to dine with us tonight,” the restaurant’s Instagram page reads.
“It was an absolute pleasure to host the Prime Minister and his beautiful wife for dinner this evening! We hope you enjoyed your evening with us.”
Lisa Grant, Owner of El Greko Greek Taverna told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that the Saturday night dinner ‘awesome’.
‘What a lovely man and Jodie is a delight.
“I was very overwhelmed, I can tell you. We are a small Greek restaurant and to be chosen to dine with us was very special.”
Mrs Grant said she checked with the couple during the night to see if “everything was OK”.
Anthony Albanese (pictured, back right) poses with Jodie Haydon (back left) along with Lisa Grant (front left) the owner of El Greko Greek Taverna and her partner and chef James Hendry
Mr Albanese and Mrs Haydon pose (centre left) with kitchen staff at El Greko Greek Taverna in Point Cook, Queensland
“They loved it, it was beautiful,” she said.
‘Almost everyone in the restaurant said, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe he’s here.
“They were all excited. There was no hate mail, that’s for sure.”
Albanese’s mood appeared anything but “pleasant” during a hasty press conference on Monday, held to respond to US President Joe Biden’s decision to call off his re-election bid.
“I tried to get a couple of days off and now I’m sitting here at a press conference on Monday,” Albanese told reporters in Cairns with a grimace.
‘Can I say that Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles’s job has been made a lot easier by the fact that I am standing here as a result of President Biden’s announcement.
‘I’m on leave until Wednesday. Although I’m here at a press conference.’
An excerpt of Mr Albanese’s response was posted on X by the Aus Integrity account.
“It can’t get any worse than this, can it?” was the question in the report.
Mr. Albanese and Mrs. Haydon pose with the wait staff after a quiet holiday dinner at El Greko Greek Taverna
Mr. Albanese (left in photo) shares a laugh with some of the kitchen staff at El Greko on Saturday evening
‘Prime Minister Albo gives a press conference to tell the people that he had to come during his vacation to give a press conference.
‘Zero credits Albo, the rest of the country works on their days off and makes unpaid overtime.’
Most of the reactions were equally unimpressed by the Prime Minister’s irritation.
“Honestly this is sad,” one person wrote.
“They barely work a full year and standing in front of the microphone destroys him? Once a union man, always a union man.”
“Bring out the violin,” remarked another.
“We don’t really want to hear from you, so go on long-term leave.”
“Give that guy a medal. A real champion. I almost cried,” was another sarcastic response.
During his press conference, Mr Albanese did not sound happy about having to interrupt his break
“He only had 87 days of vacation this year, poor boy,” wrote another sarcastic commenter.
“Didn’t you hear he grew up in a housing association? Give the man a chance.”
However, Mr Albanese also had defenders.
“Guys, can we take a moment to thank Albo for his dedication to his role,” one person wrote.
‘I don’t think anyone, anywhere, has ever come to work on their day off!
“And he barely mentioned his leave… pay attention, world leaders, this is what real leadership looks like.”
Mr Albanese faced criticism last week when he went on holiday amid chaos over a nationwide computer crash.
Someone on social media noted that while the power outage was not caused by the government, it still played a “major role in the recovery and the consequences.”
“They can set up systems to help the poor get groceries (or) help small businesses with an overview of technical solutions,” they wrote on X.
