A hardworking father who broke down on national TV after struggling to pay rent while juggling two jobs, has pitched a tent in front of the Prime Minister’s home.
Morgan Cox set up his tent outside Anthony Albanese’s $4.3million clifftop mansion on the NSW Central Coast on Thursday, and plastered it with a pointed message.
A large sign on the tent read: ‘Everyone deserves a home Albo!!! Costoflivingcasualties.com.au. Tell your story.’
Father-of-three Mr Cox made headlines with his heartbreaking story on ABC’s Q+A in March.
He revealed that his young family had already been forced out of Sydney by soaring rent costs – partially driven by an influx of people moving to the city and increasing the demand for property.
Mr Cox used the traction to further his message through social media.
The young dad has called for the federal government to temporarily close the nation’s borders to migrants in order to free up housing availability in areas affected by chronic shortages, like Sydney.
At the forefront of Mr Cox’s argument is a 2022 study which found that 3.3 million Australians are living below the poverty line, including 761,000 children.
Morgan Cox sent a poignant message to Anthony Albanese outside the PM’s $4.3million clifftop mansion on the NSW Central Coast on Thursday
The father-of-three (pictured) opened up about his struggles on a recent episode of Q+A
He showed his followers his set-up outside Mr Albanese’s home in a video.
‘I’m here at Albo’s $4.5 (sic) million mansion, we’ve just turned down his $100million road, we’re here on behalf of 3.5 million Australians who are struggling, who are in poverty, (who are) facing homelessness,’ Mr Cox explained
‘All we want is to be heard, all we want is for politicians to listen to us.
‘Everyone deserves a home Albo.’
The clip was inundated with dozens of supportive comments from viewers
‘Mate you are doing this for future of Australia. You will be on the good side of history,’ one wrote.
‘Onya Morgan! Hopefully someone will deliver you some cold ones for the stay. Stay safe mate,’ another said.
A third wrote: ‘We all appreciate the efforts you put into this, we will forever be grateful.’
Labor pledged to build 1.2 million new homes by 2030 but a report from Master Builders Australia found it will likely fall 350,000 houses short of its goal
The Prime Minister’s home on the Central Coast is pictured
The property features stunning ocean views
Mr Albanese’s $4.3million home drew criticism in October with many Aussies accusing him of being ‘out of touch’.
In response, Mr Albanese said: ‘I am much better off as prime minister … as prime minister I earn a good income. I understand I’ve been fortunate.
‘I also know what it’s like to struggle. My mum lived in the one public housing (flat) that she was born in for all of her 65 years.’
Now it’s Mr Albanese’s constituents who are suffering with Mr Cox’s heartbreaking appearance on Q+A telling of many Aussies’ experience.
‘I recently got a rent increase notice for an additional $180 a week, which works out to be about $10,000 a year,’ Mr Cox told the program panel.
‘I tried to find a cheaper place and there just aren’t any. What little is available, there’s dozens of people lined up.
‘Lots of them are immigrants and they have plenty more money than I can possibly get.’
The father was blunt in admitting the housing crisis could soon see his family on the streets.
Mr Cox called for the government to temporarily close the borders to migrants in order to free up housing availability in areas affected by chronic shortages, like Sydney
‘I’m already working two jobs,’ Mr Cox said.
‘One more rent increase and my family – my one-year-old baby – we’re facing homelessness and we’ve got nowhere to go.
‘I want to know, is the government going to cut immigration to match housing availability or are we just gonna keep going until every regular working Australian is homeless?’
Labor pledged to build 1.2 million new homes by 2030 to stem the housing crisis, but a report from Master Builders Australia found it will likely fall 350,000 houses short of its goal.
Immigration levels last year eased to 444,480, down from the record-high levels approaching 550,000 in late 2023, based on the combined permanent and long-term intake.
But the net overseas migration level was still more than double the 194,400 of 2019-20 financial year covering the start of the Covid pandemic.
