Anthony Albanese outbid at auction on Kincumber property before he bought $4.3 million mansion in Copacabana

The controversy over Anthony Albanese’s purchase of a $4.3 million cliffside property on the NSW Central Coast has taken another turn after it was revealed the Prime Minister and his fiance Jodie Haydon were outbid at a previous auction in the area.

2GB breakfast show host Ben Fordham, who broke the story about the PM’s purchase of the Copacabana property — which has been widely panned as being ‘tone deaf’ — told his listeners on Thursday morning that Mr Albanese had previously tried to purchase a sprawling property in Kincumber, but had been outbid.

“One of our listeners, Phil, has been in contact and said that he outbid Albo at an auction on a property in Kincumber,” Fordham said.

“Phil said he couldn’t believe that he, an ex-copper and handyman for 20 years, had outbid the PM.”

Residents were happy when the Prime Minister missed out on the Kincumber property, claiming they did not want the extra attention their potential new neighbour would bring.

“The neighbours told Phil that they were so glad that he had outbid the PM as they had all come under the attention of the federal police before the auction,” Fordham relayed.

The idea that the PM is looking to secure a “forever home” as Labor’s popularity slides, and the chances of his one-term exit build, have been shown to possibly be misguided as the previous auction loss was in 2023 when Mr Albanese was enjoying a healthy lead in the polls.

The latest revelation came to light after Sky News’ Sharri Markson shed light on a decision, backed by the Prime Minister, to redevelop a local road leading to his newly acquired Copacabana house on the hill.

More than $100 million in taxpayer funds will be spent to upgrade the main road leading to Mr Albanese’s new home, Markson reported.

In June this year, Mr Albanese held a press conference where he personally spoke about the upgrade to Avoca Drive on the Central Coast. It will be funded with $100 million in federal government money and $30 million in state funding.

Asked about the upgrade, Mr Albanese said: “The Minister might want to respond there, but Avoca Drive, one of the times I was here, I know that the surveying work has all been done. And I know that this is a real choke point, so it’s very important, and that’s why we’ve provided funding to make sure that it happens.”

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King said planning work was still being finalised for an upgrade to Avoca Drive and that it was being done in conjunction with the NSW government.

“We provided additional money in the last Budget, $130 million has now been allocated for this project,” Ms King said.

Mr Albanese initially committed $30 million during the federal election campaign and then another $70 million in January 2023.

Avoca Drive is the main road that Mr Albanese would need to drive on to reach his new waterfront mansion.