Anthony Albanese was spotted kissing his new girlfriend almost 18 months after separating from his wife of 30 years.
The Opposition leader and his new flame, 41-year-old Jodie Haydon, were pictured dining together last week at China Doll restaurant on Sydney’s Woolloomoolo Wharf.
Mr Albanese, who is 16 years older than Ms Haydon, separated from his wife and the mother of his only son, Carmel Tebbut, on January 1 2019.
The 57-year-old was pictured arm-in-arm with Ms Haydon, a Manager of Strategic Partnerships at First State Super, following their dinner last weekend.
Anthony Albanese was spotted kissing his new girlfriend almost 18 months after separating from his wife of 30 years
The 57-year-old was pictured arm-in-arm with his new beau, a Manager of Strategic Partnerships at First State Super, following their dinner last weekend
Photos of the pair show them enjoying an intimate meal before sharing a kiss across the table
Photos of the pair show them enjoying an intimate meal before sharing a kiss across the table.
Later in the evening, the pair left the restaurant with their arms around one another yet again.
It is not clear how long the loved-up couple have been dating, but a source confirmed the relationship to The Sunday Telegraph prior to the photos surfacing.
They had been trying to keep the relationship low-key, given it is still in the early stages, but have been able to spend more time getting to know one another amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The lockdown restrictions have meant Mr Albanese has spent less time interstate or on the road for work.
Ms Haydon is reportedly an avid South Sydney Rabbitohs fan, just like Mr Albanese, who grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
The Opposition leader and his new flame, 41-year-old Jodie Haydon, were pictured dining together last week at China Doll restaurant on Sydney’s Woolloomoolo Wharf
The pair appeared to enjoy one another’s company as they smiled and chatted quietly at their table
Mr Albanese appeared to laugh at the table (left) before scanning the room around him (right)
Ms Haydon describes herself as a strategic partnership manager who works to ’empower unions, associations and their members to make the right superannuation choices for their future’.
She has over 20 years experience in the industry, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The Labor leader was addressing 250 people at a Melbourne conference late last year when he asked whether there were any Rabbitohs supporters in the room.
Ms Haydon was the only person to raise her hand, prompting Mr Albanese to introduce himself while working the room.
He discovered Ms Haydon was a Souths member, from Sydney and living in his very own electorate in Marrickville in the city’s inner-west.
It now seems the 57-year-old Labor Leader has moved on with 41-year-old finance worker Jodie Haydon (pictured)
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese (pictured) has found love with a finance worker and fellow South Sydney supporter 16 years younger than him
They had been trying to keep the relationship low-key, given it is still in the fledgling stages
The relationship is the first for Mr Albanese since splitting with his wife of 30 years just last year.
The pair married in 2000 and have a 19-year-old son called Nathan, who lives with the Labor leader in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner-west.
Mr Albanese – then a Labor frontbencher – said it was ‘really tough’ and a ‘difficult period’ in an eye-opening interview with The Herald Sun in January this year.
‘It wasn’t something that I expected. It wasn’t something that I was prepared for,’ he said.
‘I’m an emotional person and I found it very difficult.’
Mr Albanese, who said the break-up wasn’t his decision, said it took a long time to accept and come to terms with the end of the relationship.
It is not clear how long the loved-up couple have been dating, though they were pictured dining together last week
Ms Haydon is the Manager of Strategic Partnerships at First State Super with over 20 years experience
Mr Albanese was left heartbroken after his ‘difficult’ divorce with NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt, who decided to call it quits on the 30-year relationship on January 1 last year
He announced the couple were separating in a statement released on January 7, 2019.
‘I am deeply saddened that my relationship of 30 years with Carmel Tebbutt has ended in separation,’ the statement said.
‘We will continue to share parenting responsibilities for our 18-year-old son Nathan, who has successfully completed his HSC and has developed into an outstanding young man who we are both proud of.’
The statement said no third parties had been involved in the split.
In the wake of the separation, Mr Albanese followed a commitment in the US before travelling to Europe for a self-funded break.
The opposition leader said it allowed him to clear his head and return to Australia with a ‘renewed sense of energy’ before the Federal Election on May 18, 2019.
The relationship is the first for Mr Albanese since splitting with his wife of 30-years, Carmel, just last year. They are pictured together in 2018
‘I thought Carmel would be my life partner and that wasn’t the case,’ Mr Albanese said.
Mr Albanese said he was very proud of his son, who is a ‘smart young man’ and now tackling university life.
He declared his relationship with Nathan to be the strongest it’s ever been as they were forced to rely on each other more than ever in their two-person household.
The Labor leader added his son spends time with his mother and the pair have a good relationship.
Mr Albanese met his former partner in Young Labor during the late 1980s.
Ms Tebbutt was a NSW Labor MP for 17 years before departing state politics in 2015.
She was deputy premier between 2008 and 2011 – the first woman to hold the position – under leaders Nathan Rees and Kristina Keneally.
Mr Albanese met his former partner in Young Labor during the late 1980s. They were together for 30 years