Albanese weighs in on great cabana debate

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has weighed in on the great beach cabana debate, declaring the practice of securing a prime spot using the popular shelter as 'not on'.

Beachgoers have sparked a row online after using their cabanas to reserve prime positioning on the sand.

With the sweltering summer heat over Christmas, the tented sun shades have been covering beaches everywhere around the country in recent weeks.

But while the controversy around cabanas was once how much they blocked the water views for everyone else - new debate has erupted around something entirely different.

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An online community page in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula called out people getting to the beach early and setting up their cabana, towels and umbrellas, then heading off to run errands.

They then return to the beach later in the day, without having to stress about getting a spot on the sand close to the water.

The act has divided opinion online, with one person labelling it "un-Australian", while others called anyone who had an issue with it "a Karen".

Today hosts Jayne Azzopardi and Alex Cullen admitted they were both fans of the cabana for shade at the beach, but disagreed with using it to reserve your spot on the sand if you aren't going to be there the whole time.

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Co-host Ellie Cole said she was open to the idea, however Davina Smith said she was all for using the cabana to reserve prime space on the sand, even admitting she is guilty of doing it herself.

Davina said a lot of research goes into this act, waking up early and keeping an eye on the tides to know your cabana won't get washed away.

"We're going to the beach next week and my husband and I have had this conversation of how early is too early to get up and go down there and get your spot," Davina admitted.

"I am one of those people who does it, so throw all the hate my way.

"If you get up that early to get out and get the best spot on the beach before everybody else, you deserve it."

When asked what he thought of the practice, Albanese told Today: "One of the great things about Australia – unlike some parts of the world [where] you go and you've got to pay to go to the beach – here, everyone owns the beach. Everyone.

"And it's a place where every Australian is equal. And that's a breach of that principle, really, to think that you can reserve a little spot as just yours."

Do you think it's poor form to set your cabana up early to reserve a prime position, then come back later when the beach is busy? Let us know