Anthony Albanese’s new homes, The Lodge and Kirribilli House, may not seem like fortresses from the outside, but they are the most secure in the country, with plenty of hidden defences.

Nervous Australian Federal Police officers are said to be relieved the new Prime Minister has finally moved his headquarters from Marrickville, which has been described as an ‘horror’ for his security detail by one of the country’s top security consultants .

From 2004 to 2010, Michael Brookes-Jones, the former Iraqi secret service program director, was in charge of protecting nine palaces. He was in charge of 9,600 bodyguards and preparations for ministerial trips.

Mr Brookes-Jones said Australia‘s official homes – the Lodge, which is a stone’s throw from the Houses of Parliament in Canberra, and Kirribilli House, which is just meters from Sydney Harbor Bridge – are undoubtedly the the most secure properties in the country.

Even when the Prime Minister is not present, at least two armed AFP officials are stationed inside the houses.

Meanwhile, a five-man assault squad is stationed on or off the grounds 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the event of an incident.
“In residences, there would only be concealed handguns; there would be no long guns,’ Mr Brookes-Jones told Daily Mail Australia.

“Albanians don’t like to see guys with guns, so everything inside would be extremely low key.”

The story is radically different outside the houses.

Long guns, sniper rifles, burst magazines, and full medical capabilities are all part of a good “shooting team”.
TAG East, Australia’s most elite national counter-terrorism team, can be called upon in the event of a serious threat.

The 2nd Commando Regiment’s East Coast Tactical Assault Group is one of the best-trained units in the world, focusing particularly on “direct action and hostage recovery.”

Private security guards are also hired to monitor suspicious activity on the outskirts, such as gates, fences and viewpoints.

A host of other measures – apart from firepower – are also used to protect official residences.

Regular Technical Monitoring Countermeasures (TSCM) scans are constantly performed by security teams to stop the “bugs and easy removal devices” threat.

Food poisoning and explosives checks also take place.

‘They would have hydraulic bollards to stop ram raids on the front door and there would be an intricate CCTV network around the entire premises,’ Mr Brookes-Jones said.

“Certainly any entry and exit points that someone would monitor live from a control room.”

“There’s no barbed wire because it’s aesthetically unappealing, but they have high walls to protect against vehicular assault – where a car rams the wall.

“All luggage or deliveries would pass through a bomb detection scanner and visitors would all be physically searched for weapons.”

Before the change, the new Prime Minister was seen coming out of his front door in his pajamas in broad daylight, still on the peak of his historic election victory.

The accessible photographs, which featured Ugg boots, a retro Newtown Jets jersey and Peter Alexander leggings with cute cartoon bunnies, gave a rare glimpse into the down-to-earth leader’s life.

However, the lighthearted sentiment was not shared by everyone. Mr Albanese’s security officials feared his modest home was too exposed for a world leader.

“The AFP does not comment on protective security plans,” according to AFP, but Mr Brookes-Jones told Daily Mail Australia that securing the Prime Minister’s home in Marrickville would be a “disaster”.

Mr Albanese said on Saturday he would be staying at The Lodge in Canberra instead of Kirribilli House in Sydney.

Many expected the Prime Minister to move into the Sydney mansion after Mr Morrison packed his things.

It comes after his predecessor, ‘Squat’ Morrison, was called ‘Squat’ for taking 13 days to leave after the election.

Mr Morrison has started moving his belongings to the Lodge and will return to his new home later this week after his holiday in Indonesia.

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