Five quick facts about Anthony Albanese
- He became prime minister in May 2022, as Australia started to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, ending almost a decade of Coalition government.
- Before securing the top job, he had been in parliament for over a quarter of a century, mostly as a member for the inner-western Sydney seat of Grayndler.
- Known widely as "Albo", the 61-year-old father-of-one has traditionally aligned himself with Labor's left; however, as prime minister, he has adopted more centrist positions, analysts say.
- He joined the Labor Party at age 16 and says his working-class roots have shaped his political values.
- When taking office, Albanese said his government's areas of focus would be the cost of living, bolstering Indigenous rights, and tougher climate action.
What have been some of Anthony Albanese's most challenging moments as PM?
Since taking office, Albanese has had to navigate a complex mix of domestic and international issues — including a cost of living crisis, a worldwide inflation surge, and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Early in his term though, one of his most defining policies was to hold a referendum on whether or not to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in Australia's constitution.
After a divisive campaign, the proposal was decisively rejected. The result devastated many Indigenous Australians, and hurt Albanese politically, some analysts argue.
Legislative setbacks, rising interest rates and living costs, as well as concerns over housing affordability have impacted Albanese's government, while Labor says it has given cost of living relief through tax cuts, energy bill relief and an increase to paid parental leave.
What did Anthony Albanese do before he entered politics?
Albanese often describes himself as a "kid from a council flat" who defied the odds to become prime minister. He grew up in Camperdown, in Sydney's inner-west, raised by his single mother Maryanne — a disability pensioner who lived with rheumatoid arthritis.
Albanese was the first member of his family to finish school and then get a degree, graduating from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Economics in 1984. He worked briefly as a bank officer before turning to politics, where he worked his way up the ranks of the NSW Labor Party before pursuing a career in Canberra.
What is Anthony Albanese's electoral record?
- Albanese has represented the seat of Grayndler since 1996.
- In 2007, he entered cabinet as minister for transport and infrastructure.
- He was the deputy prime minister and the broadband and communications minister under the second Rudd government.
- In 2016, he became deputy leader of the Labor Party, before becoming leader of the Opposition in 2019.
- In 2022, after Labor's election win, he became prime minister of Australia.
When did Anthony Albanese become Labor Party leader?
On 30 May 2019, following Labor's resounding defeat at the federal election, when Bill Shorten ran against then-prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party, Scott Morrison. Albanese was elected by the Labor Party unopposed after Shorten stepped down.
What was Anthony Albanese's first speech in parliament about?
Delivered in October of 1996, Albanese's first address had a strong social justice focus.
He spoke about the need to advocate on behalf of Australia's most disadvantaged communities and the importance of defending key government services such as Medicare, while also lobbing criticisms at the then-Howard government.
I come into this parliament with a sense of duty to represent my community, to make sure that the values of fairness, equality, and opportunity are always at the forefront of public policy.
