Anthony Albanese gets the holiday he was moaning for: PM quietly takes some time off after complaining he hadn’t taken a day off all year

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is on holiday after noting just weeks ago that he had not taken a single day off all year. 

His absence was confirmed on Tuesday by Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who declined to reveal where Albanese was holidaying.

Appearing on Sydney radio 2GB with host Ben Fordham, Marles was asked about the Prime Minister’s whereabouts. 

‘He’s having a break. He probably deserves one after a long period of work,’ Marles said.

Pressed on whether Albanese was in Australia or overseas, the acting Prime Minister refused to provide details.

‘We don’t talk about it, but I can say he’s in Australia,’ Marles said.

The low-key holiday comes less than three weeks after Albanese publicly defended his decision to skip the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory – which he had committed to attending every year – citing exhaustion.

Albanese insisted that he was entitled to take annual leave after months of non-stop work.

Speaking to ABC’s Hamish Macdonald on July 16, Albanese bristled when questioned about missing the Indigenous cultural gathering in Arnhem Land. 

Albanese had pledged, while Labor leader in 2019, to attend the event every year. 

‘Is this a broken promise?’ Macdonald asked.

Seemingly frustrated, Albanese rejected the suggestion and said he had already informed organisers he would not attend because he planned to be on leave.

‘You know what, Hamish? I haven’t had a day off all year,’ he said.

‘Garma isn’t the only festival that’s taken place. I’ve been to Garma. It’s a wonderful festival.

‘I informed the people who operate Garma there, the wonderful people, the Gumatj people, some time ago that I wouldn’t go because I will be on leave at that time.’

The Prime Minister also revealed he was battling the flu during the interview and said illness had not slowed his hectic schedule.

‘Sometimes, speaking to you now with the flu I’ve had, you keep going,’ he said.

‘My diary is full, and it’s been a fully engaged time.’

Albanese is not the only senior leader taking advantage of parliamentary downtime.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has stepped away during the winter recess, leaving Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume in charge.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson took a break in Europe, as was widely reported. 

Both leaders are due back in Canberra before Parliament resumes next Tuesday, with the spring sitting period set to begin.