Mardi Gras: Albo’s beers with ABC as Scott Morrison’s brother marches to support paramedics

Anthony Albanese was pictured having drinks with a senior ABC TV personality and top Labor figures after becoming the first sitting Prime Minister to walk at Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade. 

Mr Albanese was at the helm of the Rainbow Labor float on Saturday night, marching alongside his partner Jodi Haydon, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and state Labor leader Chris Minns.

Hours later, the PM could be seen rubbing shoulders with bigwigs at the national broadcaster’s post-parade celebration – with a photo showing Mr Albanese holding a beer while deep in conversation with veteran ABC broadcaster Fran Kelly. 

While Mr Albanese’s predecessor Scott Morrison never attended the parade, his senior paramedic brother Alan joined his colleagues in marching down the street to support diversity and inclusion in the ranks of Ambulance NSW.

A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said the presence of Mr Morrison – the director of education for the service – was an example of how it supports a diverse workforce. 

‘NSW Ambulance prides itself on encouraging and supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce,’ she said. 

‘As part of that, senior leaders participate in the Mardi Gras parade each year to ensure all staff feel accepted and valued in NSW Ambulance, regardless of their gender identity or sexuality.

‘We also serve a very diverse community, and ensuring everyone feels safe to call us when they need help is paramount.’

Mr Morrison’s Pentecostal brother Scott voted against gay marriage during the postal plebiscite in 2017.   

Former prime minister Scott Morrison is pictured, left, with his older brother Alan Morrison

Alan Morrison (pictured at the Mardi Gras on Saturday, bottom right) works with the NSW Ambulance and took part in the parade to show support for diversity and inclusion

Meanwhile, Mr Albanese said on Saturday that he has marched in the parade for decades – having first taken part in 1983, five years after Mardi Gras’ inception as a gay rights protest.

‘It’s unfortunate that I am the first (prime minister to march), but this is a celebration of modern Australia. We’re a diverse, inclusive Australia and that’s a good thing,’ he told the ABC.

‘People want to see that their government is inclusive and represents everyone, no matter who they love, no matter what their identity, no matter where they live. We need to be a country that respects everyone for who they are.’

Mr Albanese said partygoers needed to pay tribute to the 78ers, the Mardi Gras’ first marchers, ‘who were thrown in jail for the simple fact of who they were because they happened to be gay of lesbian’.

‘We need to continue to argue for equality.’

Anthony Albanese (pictured with his partner Jodie Haydon) became the first Australian Prime Minister to attend Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade in conjunction with WorldPride 2023