Why Anthony Albanese’s ex-wife backs him for PM

Carmel Tebbutt broke off their 30-year-long relationship three years ago, but she has been helping his ascent to the Lodge behind the scenes.

Anthony Albanese’s ex-wife is helping him become Australia’s Prime Minister, three years after she walked out of their lengthy marriage.

Carmel Tebbutt ended the pair’s relationship on New Year’s Day in 2019. They had been a couple for 30-years, being married for 19 of those.

However, despite the split, Mr Albanese said the mother of their son Nathan supports his run for the lodge.

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Anthony Albanese and ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt in 2018. Picture: Supplied

“She’s out there campaigning for me to be prime minister,” Mr Albanese told The Daily Mail.

He added, that their relationship was “fine”.

“She’s looking after Toto at the moment,” he said. “She’s been helping in very practical ways. We talk regularly about what Nathan’s doing, or the dog.”

The Labor leader has revealed he regularly speaks to his 21-year-old son while on the campaign trail.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese with his dog Toto. Picture: Liam Kidston

Anthony Albanese with partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I do have a way of making sure that I talk to my son every day,’’ he said.

“And that to me is a good-luck charm. He’s still studying. He’s completing his degree. He’s 21.

“We’re close, we live together. He also spends time at his mother’s. But I’m very proud of him. He’s developed into a very fine young man, and he will be out there campaigning for me right up until Saturday at 6pm as well.”

For decades Australian prime ministers traditionally lived at the Lodge in Canberra until John Howard and Scott Morrison decamped to Kirribilli House on Sydney Harbour for family reasons.

With his son Nathan, 21, completing his studies in Sydney, Mr Albanese said it would be “presumptuous” to reveal where he planned to live full-time or whether his new partner Jodi Haydon would be moving in.

“I have not reached any conclusions on any matters that will pre-empt the result of the Australian people, I think to do that would be very presumptuous. And I will turn my attention to that if we are successful on Saturday,” he said.

“My job is to ensure that Labor maximises the vote, I am committed to working for a majority Labor government because of the stability that that brings. So I’ll be campaigning to get at least 76 Labor members of the House of Representatives elected next Saturday.”

Originally published as Why Anthony Albanese’s ex-wife backs him for PM