Anthony Albanese has been accused of committing a ‘dog act’ over a detail in a seemingly innocent photo of the Prime Minister and his cavoodle Toto.
Mr Albanese shared a couple of pictures to X of his pet pooch on a walk outside Parliament House in Canberra on Saturday morning.
In one photo, ‘Australia’s First Dog’ sat and posed for the camera alongside her owner with Parliament House and its famous 81-metre flag pole in the background.
Mr Albanese, who was shielding his eyes from the bright winter sun behind a pair of sunglasses and a cap of his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs, captioned the post: ‘Lawn at Parliament House = Toto approved’.
In another photo, Toto could be seen roaming around on the lush green grass at the heart of government without a lead on.
Eagle-eyed observers pounced on the light-hearted post, questioning whether Toto was allowed off the leash.
In one picture, ‘Australia’s First Dog’ sits and poses patiently for the camera alongside her owner with the buildings of Parliament House and its famous 81-metre flag pole in the background
Mr Albanese, who was shielding his eyes from the bright winter sun behind a pair of sunglasses and a cap of his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs, captioned the post on X: ‘Lawn at Parliament House = Toto approved’
ACT Government rules state that the area around Parliament House is prohibited for dogs – whether they are on the lead or not – and the fine for a breach is $150.
It is unclear whether Mr Albanese has a permit for Toto that allows her to be walked on parliamentary grounds.
Daily Mail Australia contacted the Prime Minister’s office and the National Capital Authority for comment.
Social media users accused Mr Albanese of flouting the rules.
‘Apparently the law doesn’t apply to Albo and his dog,’ wrote one .
‘Dogs are prohibited anywhere in or around Parliament House. Rules for thee but not for me.’
Another directly addressed the ACT government-run Transport Canberra and City Services’
‘Are you going to issue a fine for Albo for walking his dog and having it off leash in a prohibited area?’ they asked.
Others simply stuck the boot in, accusing the Prime Minister of being out of touch.
‘For one day – just one day – can you not demonstrate how entirely disconnected you are from reality or entitled you are?’ one asked.
ACT Government rules state that the area around Parliament House is prohibited for dogs – whether they are on the lead or not – and the fine for a breach is $150
The reaction on X, formerly Twitter, was not pretty for the Prime minister
Toto, who is believed to be eight years old, made headlines in October last year when her travel habits came under scrutiny.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie grilled Air Force Chief Robert Chipman at a Senate hearing about Toto’s jet-set lifestyle.
‘Could you provide a list of all flights since the 21st of May 2022 on which animals – and specifically an animal called Toto – have been permitted on-board special purpose aircraft?’ she asked.
Mr Chipman confirmed that a pet had been known to travel on the special purpose aircraft primarily used by the Prime Minister for official duties.
Toto is often pictured with the Prime Minister, and became a celebrity in her own right during the intense campaigning period ahead of the 2022 election
The pooch splits her time between her owner’s residences at Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra when parliament is sitting (pictured: Toto, Mr Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon)
‘I am aware that there is a history of VIPs travelling with pets on VIP aircraft,’ he said.
‘(But) we do not keep comprehensive records of when animals travel on VIP aircraft.’
It is not the first time Mr Albanese has found himself in hot water over social media posts of Toto.
In 2022, the Labor leader shared a picture of his beloved cavoodle, Toto, watching on as he did a series of live crosses to the ABC and the Nine Network’s Today Show on Friday morning.
However, the picture was swiftly deleted from social media as it clearly showed the wannabe prime minister’s phone number on the dog’s collar.
Toto is often pictured with the Prime Minister, and became a celebrity in her own right during the intense campaigning period ahead of the 2022 election.
The pooch splits her time between her owner’s residences at Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra when parliament is sitting.
‘Toto has a particularly brand of dog food, it’s the only one she will eat – yes, she’s a princess,’ the Prime Minister told Nova radio station last year.
Fans of Toto created an account on X, formerly Twitter, for the pet pooch.
The bio for Toto’s profile reads: ‘Office of Toto Albanese, Australia’s First Dog.’