Senator's grocery shopping complaint prompts outrage on social media
- Replies 36
Australian Senator Ralph 'Deej' Babet, a member of the United Australia Party, stirred up public anger this week by posting a picture of his grocery bill on social media.
Mr Babet was elected to represent Victoria in the Australian Senate in the 2022 federal election, starting his six-year term on July 1, 2022.
Recently, he shared a photo of his Coles supermarket receipt, which amounted to $102.35 for 15 items.
So, what caused the social media outrage, you may wonder? If you think it was what he got considering what he spent, it isn’t.
Well, it turns out that he took the picture while seated in his luxurious Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, which is valued at approximately $100,000.
'I just went and picked up a few things from the shops. I filled up just one bag,' wrote the politician.
'They weren't kidding when they said it won't be easy under Albanese. Granted, Labor can't take all the blame. The Liberals were almost as bad.'
He added: 'The thing is, all this can be fixed very quickly if they stop making bad decisions and adopt an Australia-first attitude.'
The receipt contained relatively items like diced salmon, mangoes, free-range eggs and broccolini—hardly typical purchases for the average Australian facing today's cost of living crisis.
The senator, who earns a parliamentary salary exceeding $225,750 annually, is reportedly supported by a wealthy mining billionaire and owns a real estate company in the southeastern part of Melbourne.
Needless to say, his recent social media post did not sit well with some eagle-eyed and sharp-tongued Aussies.
Some comments on the post expressed frustration, highlighting the challenges of making ends meet with an average income.
'On the average salary, people have to get generic brands and can't afford diced salmon. Inflation bites, especially when you can't afford it—but you clearly can,' one user wrote.
Another commenter sarcastically remarked that it was easy for someone earning over $200,000 to complain about the cost of groceries.
Meanwhile, others criticised the senator for his apparent insensitivity to the financial struggles of everyday Australians. 'Go away and come back when you understand how the rest of us live,' they said.
In a recent statement to a news outlet, Mr Babet expressed his concerns about the Australian way of life, arguing that its biggest threats are related to housing and the cost of living.
He also made a point to address the affordability of everyday expenses—even saying that shopping at Coles should not be considered 'extravagant'.
In a somewhat pointed remark, he questioned whether the Prime Minister truly understands the severity of the cost-of-living crisis, suggesting that if he personally handled 'his own shopping', he might have a more accurate perspective.
Members, what are your thoughts on this? Was the social media post as 'insensitive' as others say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Mr Babet was elected to represent Victoria in the Australian Senate in the 2022 federal election, starting his six-year term on July 1, 2022.
Recently, he shared a photo of his Coles supermarket receipt, which amounted to $102.35 for 15 items.
So, what caused the social media outrage, you may wonder? If you think it was what he got considering what he spent, it isn’t.
Well, it turns out that he took the picture while seated in his luxurious Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, which is valued at approximately $100,000.
'I just went and picked up a few things from the shops. I filled up just one bag,' wrote the politician.
'They weren't kidding when they said it won't be easy under Albanese. Granted, Labor can't take all the blame. The Liberals were almost as bad.'
He added: 'The thing is, all this can be fixed very quickly if they stop making bad decisions and adopt an Australia-first attitude.'
A senator has been blasted on social media for complaining about the cost of his shopping while sitting in his luxury car. Credit: Instagram/SenatorBabet.
The receipt contained relatively items like diced salmon, mangoes, free-range eggs and broccolini—hardly typical purchases for the average Australian facing today's cost of living crisis.
The senator, who earns a parliamentary salary exceeding $225,750 annually, is reportedly supported by a wealthy mining billionaire and owns a real estate company in the southeastern part of Melbourne.
Needless to say, his recent social media post did not sit well with some eagle-eyed and sharp-tongued Aussies.
Some comments on the post expressed frustration, highlighting the challenges of making ends meet with an average income.
'On the average salary, people have to get generic brands and can't afford diced salmon. Inflation bites, especially when you can't afford it—but you clearly can,' one user wrote.
Another commenter sarcastically remarked that it was easy for someone earning over $200,000 to complain about the cost of groceries.
Meanwhile, others criticised the senator for his apparent insensitivity to the financial struggles of everyday Australians. 'Go away and come back when you understand how the rest of us live,' they said.
In a recent statement to a news outlet, Mr Babet expressed his concerns about the Australian way of life, arguing that its biggest threats are related to housing and the cost of living.
He also made a point to address the affordability of everyday expenses—even saying that shopping at Coles should not be considered 'extravagant'.
In a somewhat pointed remark, he questioned whether the Prime Minister truly understands the severity of the cost-of-living crisis, suggesting that if he personally handled 'his own shopping', he might have a more accurate perspective.
Members, what are your thoughts on this? Was the social media post as 'insensitive' as others say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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