Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has closed his electorate office in Sydney’s Marrickville after years of disruption from pro-Palestinian protests.
The Grayndler office, located on Marrickville Road, had served the community for more than 30 years before the lease was terminated on Sept 12.
“Sadly, over the past two years, aggressive protesters have repeatedly blocked access to the electorate office for people seeking assistance,” Albanese said in an interview with ABC Perth.
He said the impact extended beyond politics.
The office shared a car park with the neighbouring St Clements Church, which became a flashpoint.
“This has also significantly impacted churchgoers attending St Clements, including disruption to funerals and other services. People were even abused on their way to pay their respects. It became untenable,” the prime minister said.
He confirmed his team is now searching for a new site.
“It basically became untenable. People couldn’t use the car park they shared with the church. People were even being abused while attending funerals,” he said.
Opened in 1993 by Gough Whitlam for former MP Jeannette McHugh, the office later became Albanese’s political base as the local member.
However, in recent years, it has been at the centre of repeated demonstrations, graffiti attacks and blockades that made access increasingly difficult.
This is particularly so for demonstrators expressing anger against the govenment’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In 2023, the walls were spray-painted with slogans such as “Free Gaza” and “Free Palestine” in what police described as malicious damage.
Similar attacks and protests continued throughout. Even after most signs were removed in July 2024, small groups of activists continued to gather.
Protests flared again in 2025, with students joining demonstrations against the detention of 12 activists, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
Albanese acknowledged the charged atmosphere had taken a toll.
Ley Calls it ‘Political Intimidation’
The closure of the Marrickville office has drawn criticism from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who described the protesters’ actions in driving the prime minister out of his electorate office as “political intimidation.”“The work of our electorate offices is critical and it is saddening to see ongoing targeting has resulted in this outcome,” she told the Daily Telegraph.
“No politician should have to move offices because of extremist protesters, let alone the prime minister.
“When members of the public cannot access their elected representatives because of protests, it is no longer protest, it is political intimidation and it needs to stop.”
For Albanese, the shutdown marks the end of an era. He said he remained proud of the service delivered from Marrickville Road over three decades.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work electorate officers, past and present, have done in assisting my community from this location,” he said.
