Albanese’s security detail caught up as man arrested outside Nine HQ (2025)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s security team has been caught up in an incident in Sydney on Sunday in which a man was arrested for allegedly acting aggressively and jumping on a car.

The disturbance occurred outside the North Sydney headquarters of Nine, where Albanese was due to make an appearance on the NRL Sunday Footy Show.

Albanese had not arrived at the Nine building when the incident took place, but his security detail was on the scene in advance and present as the man was arrested by police.

A NSW Police spokesperson said officers were called to Denison Street in North Sydney about 11am, responding to concerns about the behaviour of a man allegedly acting aggressively.

“Police arrested a man aged in his 20s after he allegedly jumped onto a car. Checks revealed the man had also [allegedly] breached bail conditions. He has been taken to Chatswood police station,” the spokesperson said.

A source on the Albanese campaign team, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said the incident was not related to the Labor leader.

Albanese, who is being accompanied by a security team comprising federal police as he campaigns around the country for re-election on May 3, was ambushed by an alt-right group last week in a Melbourne hotel lobby.

Bidding for a second term as prime minister, he spoke on the Sunday Footy Show of his history supporting the South Sydney Rabbitohs, of texting Russell Crowe, and about other rugby league issues such as sports broadcast rights and anti-siphoning and the federal government deal to set up an NRL team in Papua New Guinea.

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“It’s the best example of soft diplomacy that probably Australia has ever done,” he said of the incoming PNG side, towards which the Australian government will contribute $600 million over a decade.

In conversation with Nine commentators and former players Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Paul Gallen, Albanese was also asked how he would approach dealing with US President Donald Trump.

“I’m not sure he’s a league guy,” he quipped when asked by Johns what position he thought Trump would play.

Albanese added: “We’ve had a couple of phone conversations and they’ve been good. I start with people on 100 per cent and then work my way back. Now that can be disappointing sometimes, but I’m an optimist.

“I look forward to meeting President Trump after the election if I’m successful.”

Albanese wore a Souths pin in a nod to his club membership and held a Rabbitohs mascot that has been passed down through his family.

He also took part in Freddy’s Pass-off, a game on the show in which contestants attempt to pass a football through a hole.

He scored 201 points, placing him sixth out of the eight former players and guests who have been invited to play the game this year, notably ahead of former NSW State of Origin winger Rod Wishart as well as Wiggles singer Anthony Field.

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