How Jodie Haydon met Anthony Albanese

Jodie Haydon has become Australia’s next ‘First Lady’. But her first date with Anthony Albanese was far from fancy.

She’s the daughter of schoolteachers promulgated from a relatively private life to a very public one.

Jodie Haydon stood by partner Anthony Albanese’s side throughout his six week campaign to become Prime Minister, and as he stood on stage on Saturday night to thank Australia for delivering him the leadership, it was she that he thanked.

“Thank you for coming into my life and for sharing this journey,” Mr Albanese said to Ms Haydon at the Labor victory party on Saturday night, alongside Mr Albanese’s son Nathan from his marriage with Carmel Tebbutt.

Prime Minister-elect Anthony Albanese addressed Australia after Scott Morrison’s concession with his partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan Albanese. Picture: Wendell TEODORO / AFP)

Ms Haydon, 43, grew up on the NSW Central Coast with her schoolteacher parents.

She dropped out of university to pursue a career in the superannuation industry, before she pivoted to a new role as women’s officer for the NSW Public Service Association in February this year.

She currently lives in Sydney, and has appeared alongside 59-year-old Mr Albanese at multiple points throughout the campaign.

Jodie Haydon (right) joined partner Anthony Albanese and local Labor candidate Elida Faith (left) in Cairns during the campaign. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The pair met just over two years ago at a function, where Mr Albanese asked the audience if there were any South Sydney Rabbitohs fans in the room, to which Ms Haydon voiced her support.

The two got talking, but as Ms Haydon told Australian Women’s Weekly earlier this year – at the time neither was looking for a relationship.

But the pair hit it off over beers at a Newtown brewery – close to both their homes in Sydney’s inner-west – and according to Mr Albanese, “that’s how it started”.

The pair kept a relatively low profile until they were thrust into the spotlight after they were photographed kissing.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon walk out of his Marrickville home on Sunday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Ms Haydon told NewsCorp last month that while there was no way to prepare for the meteoric rise to a public figure, “Anthony” had looked out for her.

“(He) was really protective of me and reassuring, which I’m grateful for,” she said.

Mr Albanese now becomes the first unmarried Prime Minister to receive the keys to the Lodge since Julia Gillard.

He will also be the first divorced Prime Minister, after his 30-year marriage with former NSW deputy premier Ms Tebbutt ended in 2019.

Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon do not currently live together, with Mr Albanese living at his Marrickville home during his tenure as Opposition Leader while Ms Haydon has lived nearby in Stanmore.

Mr Albanese has not yet revealed whether he will use The Lodge in Canberra as his primary base – as used to be tradition – or whether he will follow Scott Morrison’s lead in basing himself at Kirribilli House.

Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon stepped out for a coffee with dog Toto on Sunday morning. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

His dog Toto will move with him, and there will be a room for son Nathan at both residences, but Ms Haydon had declined to discuss her living arrangements prior to the election.

“I’m not getting ahead of myself when it comes to thinking about that,” she said before the election.

“We are taking everything day by day. I haven’t really contemplated that at this point.”

My Haydon had indicated before the election that should Mr Albanese win, she would continue on in her job.

“My job will be to focus on my day job and allow Anthony to focus on his,” she said.