Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his purchase of a takeaway lunch from a local cafe after it was met with fierce online criticism, and shared a new detail about the unexpectedly controversial meal.
He ignited the furore when he shared two photos of himself grabbing a banh mi from the locally revered Marrickville Pork Roll shop on Wednesday.
One of the photos showed Mr Albanese wearing a tight-fitting ‘Yes’ campaign T-shirt and jeans while waiting at the back of a long queue.
The second photo was a close up of his lunch with the prime minister smiling in the background.
“Nothing like the original Marrickville Pork Roll,” the prime minister captioned the photos.
The seemingly innocuous photo was met with a flood of anger from Aussies who were furious about his purchase of the $10 lunch.
“Glad you can afford to buy a takeaway, not like the rest of us battling to make ends meet, higher rents, higher electricity, higher fuel, homeless people … the list goes on,” one social media user raged.
“What about the people in this country (who can) not afford a pork roll or a roof over their head or electricity?” asked another.
Another commenter lambasted the prime minister for being a “walking publicity stunt” and “a joke of a PM”.
On Thursday, Mr Albanese defended his lunch purchase and told 2DAY FM’s Erin Molan he had even paid an extra $2 for pork crackling.
The host opined it was “utterly ridiculous” he was being slammed for a “relatable” post about his “relatively cheap” takeaway lunch.
The prime minister agreed and noted it was easier for people to attack him from behind a keyboard.
“I just think people, sometimes they’ll say things on social media that they would never say to your face,” he said.
“It’s best to never read the comments.”
For the most part, Mr Albanese said “people are pretty friendly and warm” to him in everyday life.
That was supported by the barrage of positive comments on his pork roll photos, which praised him for being a “down to earth” leader.
“Thank you PM Albanese for lining up and demonstrating how equal opportunity is meant to work in our great nation,” one supporter wrote.
“Love your humility,” another social media user applauded.
Many used the contentious photos as an opportunity to push their favourite pork roll picks, including a few of Mr Albanese’s fellow politicians.
“I’m sure it’s good PM Anthony Albanese, but does it beat a Wallsend Bakery Bahn Mi??” asked Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery.
Hunter MP Dan Rapacholi quipped the pork roll looked “almost as good as the ones from Branxton Bakery”, in his local electorate.