Anthony Albanese named in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential list

Anthony Albanese has been included in a prestigious list alongside other world leaders and described as someone with “immense courage”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been included in TIME Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People for 2023.

Mr Albanese was placed in the “leader” category alongside United States President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Mr Albanese was included in the TIME100 list. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The annual TIME100 list, unveiled on Thursday, recognises people across six categories: artists, icons, pioneers, leaders, titans and innovators.

To earn a spot on the prestigious list, entrants must be nominated by a former TIME100 alum, who also write a brief dedication to their candidate.

Mr Albanese won the favour of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who heralded his Australian counterpart’s path to leadership as a “symbol of hope and inspiration”.

“Progressives around the world are united in the idea that we should leave no one behind. The idea that no matter who you are or where you come from, you should have every chance to succeed in life,” Mr Trudeau wrote, paying special tribute to the Mr Albanese’s public housing upbringing.

“Few politicians embody that journey as Anthony Albanese does.”

Mr Trudeau applauded Mr Albanese’s efforts to amplify Indigenous voices. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Canadian leader, a 2016 TIME100 entrant himself, applauded Mr Albanese’s efforts to “lift up and amplify the voices who need to be heard from, particularly Indigenous peoples”.

“His government supports those who need it most, believes that we need to take ambitious climate action, and unwaveringly supports democracy in the face of unprecedented threat,” Mr Trudeau continued.

“In a world where people are increasingly uncertain about what the future holds for them and their families, it’s easy for politicians to sow fear and division. To choose the path of hope and opportunity takes immense courage, and that courage lives within Anthony Albanese.”

The leaders met for the first time ahead of the NATO Leaders Summit in Madrid in June 2022. Picture: Supplied

It seems the two leaders remain fast political friends, after an awkward snafu at their first meeting in Madrid last year, when the Canadian appeared to completely forget Mr Albanese’s name and instead called him “Tony”.

In the announcement of the 2023 list, Mr Albanese was included among a record 16 “climate leaders”, including lawyers, scientists, millionaires, activists and the new Presidents of Columbia and Brazil, who were also “recently elected on a wave of pro-climate sentiment”.

In the announcement of the 2023 list, TIME chief executive officer Jessica Silbey said the list commemorated the world’s most influential people who are “wielding their influence to drive positive action toward a better world”.

Although world leaders are a staple of the TIME100 list, being prime minister of Australia is not a sure-fire ticket in. As far as records tell, Mr Albanese is only the second Australian leader to be nominated, after Kevin Rudd in 2008.

Mr Albanese was praised for his embodying progressive politics and his inspiring path to leadership. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The list also includes King Charles II and ‘White Lotus’ star Jennifer Coolidge among its “Icons”, billionaire and Twitter owner Elon Musk, singer Beyonce, and soccer legend Lionel Messi as “Titans”, and singer Doja Cat – nominated by Australian director Baz Luhrmann – and model Bella Hadid as “Pioneers”.

Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, a 2007 TIME100 entrant, paid tribute to Syrian sisters, competitive swimmers, and human rights campaigners Sara Mardini and Yusra Mardini who fled war and sought refuge in Europe on a boat crossing between Turkey and Syria.

Fellow Oscar winner Nicole Kidman threw ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ star Colin Farrell’s hat in the ring as a TIME100 “Artist”, praising his “Irish sensibility”, ability to “look younger every year”.

“He was very emotionally open with me, and I’m very protective of him,” she wrote. “I admire his tenacity, his resilience, and his great sense of humour.”

Elvis director Baz Luhrmann wrote a piece for Doja Cat, praising the singer who was hailed by Time as a pioneer.