Who is Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese?
NINE years of a Coalition government in Australia ended in May 2022, as Anthony Albanese was elected Prime Minister.
But who is the man who has ousted Scott Morrison and the Liberal–National Coalition?
Who is Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese?
Anthony Albanese was born on March 2, 1963, in Sydney, Australia.
He grew up with his single mother on a disability pension in public housing.
As a child he was told that his father had died in a car crash, but in his teenage years, his mother Maryanne confessed to him that his father was still alive and in Italy.
Anthony did not reach out to his father at that point, and in 2001, his mother passed away.
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It was not until 2009 that he finally decided to track down his dad, Carlo, and found out that he has a half-brother and sister.
Albanese studied economics at the University of Sydney and joined the Labor party as a student.
During the 1990s, he worked as New South Wales Labor's assistant general secretary for six years.
Albanese was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996, winning the seat of in , and voiced his opinions on LGBTQ+ rights and marched in Mardi Gras parades.
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He served in the shadow cabinet before Labor's win in 2007 when he was named Leader of the House and minister for transport and infrastructure.
After Labor's 2013 defeat he stood for party leader before losing out to Bill Shorten.
But in 2019, Shorten resigned after a third successive defeat and this time Albanese was elected unopposed as Labor Party leader.
On Saturday, May 21, 2022, his party beat Morrison's Labour-National Coalition and he was sworn in as PM on Monday, May 23, 2022.
In his victory speech, he said: "I want every parent to be able to tell their child no matter where you live or where you come from, in Australia the doors of opportunity are open to us all."
Albanese is a republican and supports removing the Queen from head of state.
However he has shown great respect to the British monarchy telling the Australian parliament: "You can be a republican, as I am, and still have the deepest respect for the Queen.
"She has done her duty with fidelity, integrity, humanity and, as she sometimes lets slip, a sly sense of humour."
A spokesperson for the party said: "While constitutional recognition and a Voice to Parliament for First Nations people remain Labor’s first priority for constitutional reform, it is important that Australians have the opportunity to discuss and consider appointing an Australian head of state in the future."
They added: “An Albanese Labor government will progress this discussion in a way that maximises the chance of success of a referendum on a First Nations Voice as well as future steps towards an Australian head of state.”
As PM, Albanese aims to improve childcare, TAFE (Technical and further education), renewable energy and Medicare.
Is Anthony Albanese married and how many children does he have?
Anthony Albanese, also known as "Albo" among Australians, was married for 19 years to Carmel Tebbutt.
Carmel was deputy premier of New South Wales.
The couple were together for 11 years before they tied the knot in 2000.
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They parted ways in 2019 but still keep in contact and she was an active supporter in his election campaign.
During their marriage, the couple had one child, Nathan Albanese born on December 7, 2000.