Albo’s brutal clash with heckler

Anthony Albanese has clashed with hecklers midway through a press conference about his plan to funnel millions into a new stadium in Hobart.

Mr Albanese was at Macquarie Point to announce the $240m investment in the “one-in-a-generation” urban renewal project, which will pave the way for Tasmania to enter the AFL.

“We want affordable housing, not a stadium, affordable housing,” a man shouted from the crowd.

“Priorities Albo please, priorities,” another yelled.

The group had gathered to watch on as the Prime Minister appeared alongside the Premier Jeremy Rockliff and other state and federal ministers, disrupting the press conference by blowing on umpires whistles and shouting.

“Any more questions?” Mr Albanese asked as the hecklers continued.

But it wasn’t until the Prime Minister began to wind down the press conference when the situation came to a head.

“The big picture is housing,” a woman yelled, adding, “Let’s talk about housing, Prime Minister”.

An unimpressed Mr Albanese glared at the protester and responded: “I think you’ve had your say”.

“No, I haven’t, you have had your say at the back of the sewerage works when no-one knows what is going on,” she continued.

The Prime Minister then turned his focus back to the reporter’s question about whether or not he would be DJing at Kyle Sandilands’s wedding on Saturday, before promptly ending the press conference.

The clash comes as a report by Anglicare on Friday revealed rents in Tasmania had risen 10 times faster than income support payments

While Tasmanians have been broadly supportive of the state joining the AFL, the condition of requiring a new stadium be built has proved to be controversial.

State Labor has been critical of the proposal and leader Rebecca White did not appear alongside the Prime Minister at the announcements.

Asked about her absence on Friday, when Mr Albanese pledged $65m to update UTAS stadium in Launceston, he shrugged suggestions of a rift.

“There aren‘t members of the opposition at either level here. This is a government to government announcement,” he said.