Australian PM blames ‘aggressive protesters’ for closure of local electorate office

Anthony Albanese says site next to church ‘became untenable’ after repeated protests against Gaza war in inner Sydney suburb

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The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has closed his inner-Sydney electorate office after almost 30 years, saying his hand had been forced by repeated protests outside the office.

Albanese’s office in Marrickville, in his electorate of Grayndler, has long been a target of demonstrations, particularly over the war in Gaza, including a months-long sit-in outside the office in 2024.