Meet Anthony Albanese’s girlfriend after marriage breakup

Anthony Albanese has posed for photos in a women’s magazine wearing a trendy outfit alongside his new girlfriend Jodie Haydon as he gears up for the election – and tries to prove he’s very different from rival Scott Morrison.

The Labor leader, 58, donned a fitted shirt, skinny grey chinos with a belt and $129 Country Road gum sole sneakers for the photo shoot at his Marrickville home.

Celebrity stylist Donny Galella said the pictures in Women’s Weekly showed a stark contrast between Mr Albanese and Prime Minister Morrison who typically opts for baggy chinos and RM Williams boots.

Anthony Albanese is pictured at home in Sydney with his girlfriend Jodie Haydon and dog Toto

The 58-year-old Labor leader, a craft beer fanatic, enjoyed his first night out with 43-year-old Jodie Haydon (pictured together) at the Young Henrys brewery in Newtown

The 58-year-old Labor leader, a craft beer fanatic, enjoyed his first night out with 43-year-old Jodie Haydon (pictured together) at the Young Henrys brewery in Newtown

The pair (pictured) met in early 2020 at a conference in Melbourne where Mr Albanese was speaking

The pair (pictured) met in early 2020 at a conference in Melbourne where Mr Albanese was speaking

‘Comparing the two, Mr Albanese definitely has a much more tailored and stylish look, especially with the white shoes,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Albo is looking pretty stylish in the classic combo of a white shirt and well fitted chinos. 

‘His white trainers are a big trend at the moment and the blue stripe even matches Jodie’s dress.’

The Opposition leader had a significant makeover last year, losing 15kg, investing in new suits and snapping up some $349 Byblos Black Havana spectacles.

The snaps were taken as Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon conducted their first interview together just three months out from the looming election, where women’s votes could prove decisive.

Mr Albanese revealed he wooed his new girlfriend with a date at a hipster brewery in Sydney’s inner west.

Mr Albanese is hoping to become the next Prime Minister of Australia, with an election in May

Mr Albanese is hoping to become the next Prime Minister of Australia, with an election in May

Celebrity stylist Donny Galella said the pictures in Women's Weekly showed a stark contrast between Mr Albanese and Prime Minister Scott Morrison (centre) who typically opts for baggy chinos and RM Williams boots

Celebrity stylist Donny Galella said the pictures in Women’s Weekly showed a stark contrast between Mr Albanese and Prime Minister Scott Morrison (centre) who typically opts for baggy chinos and RM Williams boots

The Opposition leader had a significant makeover last year, losing 15kg, investing in new suits and snapping up some $349 Byblos Black Havana spectacles (pictured)

The Opposition leader had a significant makeover last year, losing 15kg, investing in new suits and snapping up some $349 Byblos Black Havana spectacles (pictured)

The craft beer fanatic enjoyed his first night out with 43-year-old Jodie Haydon at the Young Henrys brewery in Newtown.

‘We had what I thought would just be a drink at Young Henrys in Newtown, and we got on really well. That’s how it started,’ he told Women’s Weekly.

The pair met in early 2020 at a conference in Melbourne where Mr Albanese was speaking. 

The opposition leader asked the crowd if there were any fellow South Sydney fans present and finance worker Ms Haydon, who lives in his Grayndler electorate, shouted: ‘Up the Rabbitohs’.

He later introduced himself and they decided to go for a drink when they were back in Sydney.

Mr Albanese, a father-of-one, had recently split from his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt after 19 years of marriage.

Ms Haydon, who has never been married or had children, said she wasn’t looking for a relationship but realised she had fallen in love with Mr Albanese when he had a car crash in January 2021.

His Toyota was rammed by a Range Rover and he was rushed to hospital for X-rays but escaped serious injury.

In January 2021 Mr Albanese's car (pictured) was hit by a Range Rover but he escaped serious injury

In January 2021 Mr Albanese’s car (pictured) was hit by a Range Rover but he escaped serious injury

Ms Haydon recalled arriving at the scene of the crash in Marrickville after a phone call and seeing her boyfriend’s smashed-up car. 

‘I saw the mess of a car before I saw him and thought ‘he couldn’t survive this”. It was very scary, and in that moment, you realise just how much you love this person – the fear of losing them,’ she said.

‘As I jumped in the ambulance and saw Anthony, I knew then the depth of my feelings towards him.’

The interview is Ms Haydon’s first and comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared on 60 Minutes with his wife Jenny and two daughters.

Analysts believe Mr Morrison’s family is his ‘secret weapon’ in connecting with voters.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese with his son Nathan (left) and partner Jodie Haydon in January at the National Press Club in Canberra

Labor leader Anthony Albanese with his son Nathan (left) and partner Jodie Haydon in January at the National Press Club in Canberra

Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese (right) with mum Maryanne Ellery and son Nathan

Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese (right) with mum Maryanne Ellery and son Nathan

Mr Albanese attends the Australian premiere of Hamilton at Lyric Theatre last year with girlfriend Jodie

Mr Albanese attends the Australian premiere of Hamilton at Lyric Theatre last year with girlfriend Jodie

Mr Albanese, who earns $390,820 a year, and the First State Super financial worker were first spotted kissing at an upmarket Sydney restaurant in June 2020. 

Eighteen months earlier on New Year’s Day 2019, the 58-year-old separated from his ex-wife – former NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt.

The aspiring future prime minister later said he ‘didn’t see it coming’ when Ms Tebbutt abruptly ended their marriage.  

‘I found it very tough. The relationship was 30 years old,’ he told ABC Radio last month.

Mr Albanese and Ms Tebbutt met in Young Labor during the late 1980s. They were together for 30 years.

Nathan, the couple’s only child, had just turned 18 and completed his HSC exams when Ms Tebbutt ended the relationship. 

Mr Albanese declared his relationship with Nathan to be the strongest it’s ever been in January 2020, as the pair were forced to rely on each other more than ever in their two-person household.

Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt - the former NSW deputy premier. The potential future prime minister said he 'didn't see it coming' when Ms Tebbutt ended their marriage on New Year's Day 2019

Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt – the former NSW deputy premier. The potential future prime minister said he ‘didn’t see it coming’ when Ms Tebbutt ended their marriage on New Year’s Day 2019

The Labor leader was brought up by single mother Maryanne Ellery, who raised him in housing commission on a disability pension income.  

‘My story began in a council house in Camperdown,’ he said.

‘Just me and my mum. She wasn’t well and it wasn’t easy. But all things were possible.’

Ms Ellery was rushed to hospital on Mother’s Day in 2002 after a brain aneurism, before dying two weeks later.

Mr Albanese has been open about her death and recently explained how he discovered something was wrong after flying to Sydney from Canberra to take Ms Ellery to a Mother’s Day lunch.

‘When I got to her home in Camperdown, I knew something wasn’t right. The front door had been left open,’ he wrote on Twitter.

Mr Albanese (left) told in 2021 how his mother Maryanne Ellery (right) had a brain aneurism on Mother's Day in 2002

Mr Albanese (left) told in 2021 how his mother Maryanne Ellery (right) had a brain aneurism on Mother’s Day in 2002

Ms Ellery (pictured with Nathan) died on May 25 in 2002, two weeks after being hospitalised

Ms Ellery (pictured with Nathan) died on May 25 in 2002, two weeks after being hospitalised

‘After decades of health problems, mum had a brain aneurysm, and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Mum would spend two weeks in hospital before finally passing.’

His mother died on May 25 and in the two decades since Mr Albanese said he has visited her cemetery every Mother’s Day to ‘remember how much she sacrificed’ for him.

‘Mum always gave me unconditional love. And I feel very privileged to have had that,’ he wrote. 

Mr Albanese didn’t meet his Italian father Carlo Albanese until 2009, and believed he was dead until he was 15-years-old.

Carlo died in 2014.

Mr Albanese has been the leader of the opposition since 2019. and has held the federal seat of Grayndler, which covers the inner-western Sydney suburb he calls home, since March 1996.

He stripped down Labor’s policy offering to give it the best chance of being elected, scrapping Bill Shorten’s franking credits and negative gearing tax policies.

The strategy is to remain a small target to avoid attacks, and make this election a referendum on Mr Morrison’s leadership and character.

Meanwhile, Mr Albanese has been at pains to point out that he stands for aspiration and will back everyday Aussies who work hard for their families.

‘I stand for a strong economy. I stand for making sure that people can not get left behind, but also that they not get held back for opportunity. I stand for aspiration,’ he told the Today show earlier this month. 

Mr Albanese is pictured campaigning for Medicare services in 1996 when he first joined parliament

Mr Albanese is pictured campaigning for Medicare services in 1996 when he first joined parliament

Mr Albanese is pictured as a young man in Sydney. He became a federal MP in 1996 aged 33

Mr Albanese is pictured as a young man in Sydney. He became a federal MP in 1996 aged 33

Asked by host Karl Stefanovic if he stood for ‘inner-city lefties’, Mr Albanese replied: ‘Well, I stand for all Australians, Karl. And I’m comfortable sitting in a pub in Hewenden in North Queensland just as I am comfortable sitting around a boardroom talking about business.’ 

Drawing a line under his ‘hard left’ days, Mr Albanese said he is now focused ‘on things that matter to Australians like jobs, wage growth, the crisis in aged care and the need for the revival of Australian manufacturing’.

‘I’m very happy to stand by all of the policies that I have outlined ahead of the coming election because these are the policies a Labor government will implement if we are successful,’ he said.  

Albo’s tribute to his late mother

Mother’s Day is such a special day, but for me and many others it’s always a bit difficult. Mother’s Day was the day my mum went to hospital and never came back.

I remember it was a Sunday in autumn of 2002. I had just flown back to Sydney from Canberra to take my mum Maryanne and her sister Margaret out for Mother’s Day lunch. When I got to her home in Camperdown, I knew something wasn’t right. The front door had been left open.

After decades of health problems, mum had a brain aneurism, and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Mum would spend two weeks in hospital before finally passing. Over those two weeks, we said goodbye – twice. Both times she came through – she was a real fighter.

On the third time, she didn’t make it. Maryanne Albanese died on the 25th of May, 2002. Around every Mother’s Day, I visit the cemetery where mum is and I remember how much she sacrificed for me.

Mum had rheumatoid arthritis that crippled her joints and meant she couldn’t work. She lived on a disability pension. Life wasn’t easy, and her health made things even harder – but we got through because of her.

We lived in council housing, which gave us a sense of security and stability. It was our home. She taught me how to save – and how to spend wisely – because every dollar had to count. She also taught me the most important lesson of all: the importance of leaving no one behind.

Truth is, mum was left behind – by people who counted her out, and by governments who cut back support. The cutbacks that happened in mum’s lifetime meant she had to justify the support she was receiving. When health funding was cut, the quality of mum’s care was cut too.  

And when they tried to sell our council house, it felt like our home was being taken from us.

I know the difference that governments can make on people’s lives because I lived it. Mum lived it. It’s what motivated me to get into politics. To help people. To make life better for people. To make sure no one is left behind.   

Mum always gave me unconditional love. And I feel very privileged to have had that. Mums really are special. A happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there.  

The Australian Women’s Weekly March issue is on sale Thursday February 24, 2022

The Australian Women’s Weekly March issue is on sale Thursday February 24, 2022

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