Anthony Albanese’s new houses, The Lodge and Kirribilli House, may not appear to be fortresses from the outside, but they are the most secure in the country, with concealed defenses galore.
Nervous Australian Federal Police officers are said to be relieved that the new Prime Minister has finally relocated his headquarters from Marrickville, which has been described as a ‘horror’ for his security detail by one of the country’s best security consultants.
From 2004 through 2010, Michael Brookes-Jones, the former program director of Iraq’s secret service, was in charge of protection for nine palaces. He was in charge of 9,600 bodyguards and ministerial travel preparations.
Mr Brookes-Jones stated that Australia’s official houses – the Lodge, which is a stone’s throw from Parliament House in Canberra, and Kirribilli House, which is metres from Sydney’s Harbour Bridge – are without a doubt the safest properties in the country.
Even when the PM is not present, at least two armed AFP officials are stationed inside the homes.
Meanwhile, a five-man assault squad is stationed on the grounds or next door 24 hours a day, seven days a week in case of an incident.
‘In the residences, there would only be concealed handguns; there would be no long firearms,’ Mr Brookes-Jones told the Daily Mail Australia.
‘Albanese don’t like seeing guys with guns, so everything inside would be extremely low key.’
The story is drastically different outside of the houses.
Long arms, sniper rifles, breaching chargers, and full medical capability are all part of a good ‘firing team.’
TAG East, Australia’s most elite domestic counter-terrorism squad, can be called in if there is a serious threat.
The Tactical Assault Group for the east coast of the 2nd Commando Regiment is one of the most highly trained units in the world, focusing especially on ‘direct action and hostage recovery.’
Private security guards are also engaged to monitor suspicious activities on the periphery, such as at gates, fences, and lookout points.
A host of other measures – aside from firepower – are also utilised to protect the official residences.
Regular Technical Surveillance Counter Measure (TSCM) sweeps are constantly carried out by security teams to stop the threat of ‘bugs and ease-dropping devices’.
Food poisoning and explosives checks also take place.
‘They would have hydraulic bollards to stop ram raids on the front gate and it would have a complex CCTV network around the entire premises,’ Mr Brookes-Jones said.
‘Certainly every entry and exit point which someone would be watching live from a control room.’
‘There is no barb wire because it’s aesthetically displeasing, but they do have high walls to protect against a vehicular assault – where a car rams through the wall.
‘Any baggage or deliveries would go through a bomb detection scanner and visitors will all be physically searched for weapons.’
Prior to the change, the newly-minted prime minister had been observed going out of his front door in his jammies in broad daylight, still high on his historic election victory.
The accessible photographs, which featured Ugg boots, a throwback Newtown Jets jersey, and Peter Alexander leggings with cute cartoon rabbits, caught a rare insight into the down-to-earth leader’s life.
However, the lighthearted sentiment was not shared by everyone. Those in charge of Mr Albanese’s security were concerned that his modest home was too exposed for a world leader.
‘The AFP does not comment on protective security plans,’ according to the AFP, but Mr Brookes-Jones told Daily Mail Australia that securing the PM’s Marrickville home would be a ‘disaster.’
Mr Albanese said on Saturday that he will be staying at The Lodge in Canberra instead of Kirribilli House in Sydney.
Many expected the PM to move into the Sydney mansion after Mr Morrison had packed his belongings.
It comes after his predecessor, ‘Squat’ Morrison, was called ‘Squat’ for taking 13 days to leave the premises following the election.
Mr Morrison has started moving his belongings to The Lodge and will return to his new home later this week after his vacation to Indonesia.