Ben Fordham shares video of Anthony Albanese’s hilarious fortune cookie moment ahead of election victory

As the results rolled in last night and Labor’s victory became clear, radio host Ben Fordham shared a prescient moment from the past.

When it became clear that Anthony Albanese was Australia’s next prime minister on Saturday night, 2GB radio host Ben Fordham revealed a fun and, it turns out, prescient moment he’d shared with the Labor leader.

“February 2021. Lunch in Chinatown. Opening fortune cookies with the future PM,” Fordham explained on Twitter.

He said he was sharing the video with the permission of the people in it: Mr Albanese, former Labor minister Graham Richardson, and former Liberal treasurer Joe Hockey.

“What have you got? Albo, this could be your future,” Fordham tells Mr Albanese in the clip, as the group crack open their cookies.

“Don’t be afraid to chase after your dreams,” Mr Richardson reads out.

There’s a brief pause as Mr Albanese examines his message.

“It says: ‘You’ll s*** it in,’” he improvises, to much laughter.

“‘Albo, give up now,’” Mr Hockey quips, also concocting his own message.

February 2021.

Lunch in Chinatown.

Opening fortune cookies with the future PM.

Video shared with permission of those present. pic.twitter.com/UztNVActPH

— Ben Fordham (@BenFordham) May 21, 2022

One might argue it’s still unclear whether Mr Albanese has, in fact, “s*** it in”. With about a dozen seats still undecided, Labor remains short of a majority in parliament.

It does appear to be on track, however. With 73 of the 76 necessary seats already called in Labor’s favour, the party is currently leading in Bennelong, Deakin, Gilmore, Lingiari, Lyons, Macnamara, Sturt.

It’s a victory then. But Labor’s primary vote actually went backwards last night, coming in 0.5 per cent lower than in the election it lost to Scott Morrison in 2019. A touch under a third of Australians voted for it.

The biggest beneficiaries of Mr Morrison’s demise were actually the Greens and a surge of independent candidates, many of them of the “teal” variety.

Mr Albanese, his partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan Albanese on stage last night. Picture: Wendell Teodoro/AFP

“I want to unite people. People want to come together, look for common interest, look towards the sense of common purpose,” Mr Albanese said in his victory speech to Labor supporters in Sydney last night.

“Tonight the Australian people have voted for change. I am humbled by this victory. And I am honoured to be given the opportunity to serve as the 31st Prime Minister.

“My Labor team will work every day to bring Australians together. And I will lead a government worthy of the people of Australia. A government as courageous and hardworking and caring as the Australian people are themselves.”

He thanked Mr Morrison, who had conceded earlier in the night, for his “gracious” congratulations and for his service.

Mr Albanese then brought up his own humble beginnings.

“My fellow Australians, it says a lot about our great country that a son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing down the road in Camperdown, can stand before you tonight as Australia’s Prime Minister,” he said.

“During this campaign I have put forward a positive, clear plan for a better future for our country. And I have shared the two principles that will a government that I lead. No-one left behind because we should always look after the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.

“But also no-one held back, because we should always support aspiration and opportunity.”

Beaten Prime Minister Scott Morrison on stage with his family. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Earlier in the night, outgoing PM Scott Morrison fronted his supporters to concede defeat, acknowledging that it was a “difficult night for Liberals and Nationals around the country”.

“Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition, and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and I’ve congratulated on his election victory this evening,” Mr Morrison said.

“In this country, at a time like this, when we look around the world, and particularly when we see those in the Ukraine fighting for their very freedom and liberty, I think on a night like tonight, we can reflect on the greatness of our democracy.”